Page established September 2011
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered "come to me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
Anna was the loving Wife of Charles for 50 years, the Mother of 12 children, Grandmother of many, and Great-Grandmother to many, many more. She loved to garden, read, play the piano, and was known for baking the most scrumptious pies. Anna was a gentle, kind and humble soul who loved the Lord. She not only exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be a Christian woman, she also exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be human.
Being in the presence of Anna was always a lovely and heart warming experience. Never a harsh word or judgement, but rather an accepting, understanding and comfortable encounter. Knowing Anna made you want to strive to be a better person.
As a young girl Anna was extremely bright and she excelled. Due to her academic excellence, she would eventually be placed two years ahead in school.
During the years of her marriage to Charles, Anna would suffer from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Despite the fact that she had lost part of her reproductive system to this life threatening event, Anna still went on to have more children. Sadly, Anna lost an infant son and daughter. Joseph was still born and her most difficult delivery. Baby Joan passed away at 6 months due to pneumonia.
Later in life Charles and Anna would leave their city life in Philadelphia behind for a rural sleepy little town in Southern New Jersey. Living on a few acres and in a tiny farm house, Charles would tend to his chickens and sell fresh eggs. Anna would pick berries growing in the woods to use in her delicious pies. Their ever growing large family would visit them often on "the farm" and many happy memories were made there.
Anna is dearly missed and loved by all who knew her. If you were blessed enough to know Anna...you were surely blessed enough.
Love leaves a memory, that no one can steal.
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. ~ Saint Francis de Sales
Charles and Anna's Children:
1924 - 2001: Anna Burns Wood
1926 - 1987: Sara "Sally" Burns McLeon
1928 - 2007: Charles Burns
1930 - 1931: Joan Burns
1931 - 2008: Patricia Burns Schofield
1934 - 2009: Rosemarie Burns
1936 - 1997: Margaret Burns Lloyd
1937 - 1937: Joseph Burns (still born)
1938 - 1990: Robert Burns
1942 - 1996: Kathleen Burns Mullen
1943 -2021: George Burns
1945: Michael Burns
Anna's Parents:
1871 - 1937: John Smekyal
1884 - 1946: Anna (Piech) Piecek
In 1978 two years after Anna's passing, Karol Jozef Wojtyla became the newly elected Pontiff taking the name John Paul II. Anna's youngest surviving sister Sophie Smeykal Kurfirst, alleged that the family is a part of Karol Jozef Wojtyia's extended family tree. Anna's mother Anna (Piech) Piecek, was born in Kraków Poland and came to the U.S. as an Indentured Servant.
Anna's father John (Johann) Smekyal was a well educated man. Born in Czechoslovakia, he eventually relocated to Austria. John was multilingual and also had a royal title. As a young man he had entered into the Seminary. Having a change of heart, he would eventually leave both the Seminary and Austria behind for America.
John eventually met his wife Anna, and assisted her in learning to speak English. He lived the remainder of his life in Philadelphia with his wife and children working as a Carpenter.
*Geneology records show Anna's Mother's maiden name spelled as "Piecek." The "original" spelling of the name Piecek, as given by Anna herself is "Piech." Although the name looks to be pronounced as "peach" Anna stated it is instead pronounced as "Pee-ack."
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered "come to me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
Anna was the loving Wife of Charles for 50 years, the Mother of 12 children, Grandmother of many, and Great-Grandmother to many, many more. She loved to garden, read, play the piano, and was known for baking the most scrumptious pies. Anna was a gentle, kind and humble soul who loved the Lord. She not only exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be a Christian woman, she also exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be human.
Being in the presence of Anna was always a lovely and heart warming experience. Never a harsh word or judgement, but rather an accepting, understanding and comfortable encounter. Knowing Anna made you want to strive to be a better person.
As a young girl Anna was extremely bright and she excelled. Due to her academic excellence, she would eventually be placed two years ahead in school.
During the years of her marriage to Charles, Anna would suffer from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Despite the fact that she had lost part of her reproductive system to this life threatening event, Anna still went on to have more children. Sadly, Anna lost an infant son and daughter. Joseph was still born and her most difficult delivery. Baby Joan passed away at 6 months due to pneumonia.
Later in life Charles and Anna would leave their city life in Philadelphia behind for a rural sleepy little town in Southern New Jersey. Living on a few acres and in a tiny farm house, Charles would tend to his chickens and sell fresh eggs. Anna would pick berries growing in the woods to use in her delicious pies. Their ever growing large family would visit them often on "the farm" and many happy memories were made there.
Anna is dearly missed and loved by all who knew her. If you were blessed enough to know Anna...you were surely blessed enough.
Love leaves a memory, that no one can steal.
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. ~ Saint Francis de Sales
Charles and Anna's Children:
1924 - 2001: Anna Burns Wood
1926 - 1987: Sara "Sally" Burns McLeon
1928 - 2007: Charles Burns
1930 - 1931: Joan Burns
1931 - 2008: Patricia Burns Schofield
1934 - 2009: Rosemarie Burns
1936 - 1997: Margaret Burns Lloyd
1937 - 1937: Joseph Burns (still born)
1938 - 1990: Robert Burns
1942 - 1996: Kathleen Burns Mullen
1943 -2021: George Burns
1945: Michael Burns
Anna's Parents:
1871 - 1937: John Smekyal
1884 - 1946: Anna (Piech) Piecek
In 1978 two years after Anna's passing, Karol Jozef Wojtyla became the newly elected Pontiff taking the name John Paul II. Anna's youngest surviving sister Sophie Smeykal Kurfirst, alleged that the family is a part of Karol Jozef Wojtyia's extended family tree. Anna's mother Anna (Piech) Piecek, was born in Kraków Poland and came to the U.S. as an Indentured Servant.
Anna's father John (Johann) Smekyal was a well educated man. Born in Czechoslovakia, he eventually relocated to Austria. John was multilingual and also had a royal title. As a young man he had entered into the Seminary. Having a change of heart, he would eventually leave both the Seminary and Austria behind for America.
John eventually met his wife Anna, and assisted her in learning to speak English. He lived the remainder of his life in Philadelphia with his wife and children working as a Carpenter.
*Geneology records show Anna's Mother's maiden name spelled as "Piecek." The "original" spelling of the name Piecek, as given by Anna herself is "Piech." Although the name looks to be pronounced as "peach" Anna stated it is instead pronounced as "Pee-ack."
Page established September 2011
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered "come to me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
Anna was the loving Wife of Charles for 50 years, the Mother of 12 children, Grandmother of many, and Great-Grandmother to many, many more. She loved to garden, read, play the piano, and was known for baking the most scrumptious pies. Anna was a gentle, kind and humble soul who loved the Lord. She not only exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be a Christian woman, she also exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be human.
Being in the presence of Anna was always a lovely and heart warming experience. Never a harsh word or judgement, but rather an accepting, understanding and comfortable encounter. Knowing Anna made you want to strive to be a better person.
As a young girl Anna was extremely bright and she excelled. Due to her academic excellence, she would eventually be placed two years ahead in school.
During the years of her marriage to Charles, Anna would suffer from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Despite the fact that she had lost part of her reproductive system to this life threatening event, Anna still went on to have more children. Sadly, Anna lost an infant son and daughter. Joseph was still born and her most difficult delivery. Baby Joan passed away at 6 months due to pneumonia.
Later in life Charles and Anna would leave their city life in Philadelphia behind for a rural sleepy little town in Southern New Jersey. Living on a few acres and in a tiny farm house, Charles would tend to his chickens and sell fresh eggs. Anna would pick berries growing in the woods to use in her delicious pies. Their ever growing large family would visit them often on "the farm" and many happy memories were made there.
Anna is dearly missed and loved by all who knew her. If you were blessed enough to know Anna...you were surely blessed enough.
Love leaves a memory, that no one can steal.
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. ~ Saint Francis de Sales
Charles and Anna's Children:
1924 - 2001: Anna Burns Wood
1926 - 1987: Sara "Sally" Burns McLeon
1928 - 2007: Charles Burns
1930 - 1931: Joan Burns
1931 - 2008: Patricia Burns Schofield
1934 - 2009: Rosemarie Burns
1936 - 1997: Margaret Burns Lloyd
1937 - 1937: Joseph Burns (still born)
1938 - 1990: Robert Burns
1942 - 1996: Kathleen Burns Mullen
1943 -2021: George Burns
1945: Michael Burns
Anna's Parents:
1871 - 1937: John Smekyal
1884 - 1946: Anna (Piech) Piecek
In 1978 two years after Anna's passing, Karol Jozef Wojtyla became the newly elected Pontiff taking the name John Paul II. Anna's youngest surviving sister Sophie Smeykal Kurfirst, alleged that the family is a part of Karol Jozef Wojtyia's extended family tree. Anna's mother Anna (Piech) Piecek, was born in Kraków Poland and came to the U.S. as an Indentured Servant.
Anna's father John (Johann) Smekyal was a well educated man. Born in Czechoslovakia, he eventually relocated to Austria. John was multilingual and also had a royal title. As a young man he had entered into the Seminary. Having a change of heart, he would eventually leave both the Seminary and Austria behind for America.
John eventually met his wife Anna, and assisted her in learning to speak English. He lived the remainder of his life in Philadelphia with his wife and children working as a Carpenter.
*Geneology records show Anna's Mother's maiden name spelled as "Piecek." The "original" spelling of the name Piecek, as given by Anna herself is "Piech." Although the name looks to be pronounced as "peach" Anna stated it is instead pronounced as "Pee-ack."
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered "come to me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
Anna was the loving Wife of Charles for 50 years, the Mother of 12 children, Grandmother of many, and Great-Grandmother to many, many more. She loved to garden, read, play the piano, and was known for baking the most scrumptious pies. Anna was a gentle, kind and humble soul who loved the Lord. She not only exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be a Christian woman, she also exemplified the best qualities of what it means to be human.
Being in the presence of Anna was always a lovely and heart warming experience. Never a harsh word or judgement, but rather an accepting, understanding and comfortable encounter. Knowing Anna made you want to strive to be a better person.
As a young girl Anna was extremely bright and she excelled. Due to her academic excellence, she would eventually be placed two years ahead in school.
During the years of her marriage to Charles, Anna would suffer from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Despite the fact that she had lost part of her reproductive system to this life threatening event, Anna still went on to have more children. Sadly, Anna lost an infant son and daughter. Joseph was still born and her most difficult delivery. Baby Joan passed away at 6 months due to pneumonia.
Later in life Charles and Anna would leave their city life in Philadelphia behind for a rural sleepy little town in Southern New Jersey. Living on a few acres and in a tiny farm house, Charles would tend to his chickens and sell fresh eggs. Anna would pick berries growing in the woods to use in her delicious pies. Their ever growing large family would visit them often on "the farm" and many happy memories were made there.
Anna is dearly missed and loved by all who knew her. If you were blessed enough to know Anna...you were surely blessed enough.
Love leaves a memory, that no one can steal.
Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. ~ Saint Francis de Sales
Charles and Anna's Children:
1924 - 2001: Anna Burns Wood
1926 - 1987: Sara "Sally" Burns McLeon
1928 - 2007: Charles Burns
1930 - 1931: Joan Burns
1931 - 2008: Patricia Burns Schofield
1934 - 2009: Rosemarie Burns
1936 - 1997: Margaret Burns Lloyd
1937 - 1937: Joseph Burns (still born)
1938 - 1990: Robert Burns
1942 - 1996: Kathleen Burns Mullen
1943 -2021: George Burns
1945: Michael Burns
Anna's Parents:
1871 - 1937: John Smekyal
1884 - 1946: Anna (Piech) Piecek
In 1978 two years after Anna's passing, Karol Jozef Wojtyla became the newly elected Pontiff taking the name John Paul II. Anna's youngest surviving sister Sophie Smeykal Kurfirst, alleged that the family is a part of Karol Jozef Wojtyia's extended family tree. Anna's mother Anna (Piech) Piecek, was born in Kraków Poland and came to the U.S. as an Indentured Servant.
Anna's father John (Johann) Smekyal was a well educated man. Born in Czechoslovakia, he eventually relocated to Austria. John was multilingual and also had a royal title. As a young man he had entered into the Seminary. Having a change of heart, he would eventually leave both the Seminary and Austria behind for America.
John eventually met his wife Anna, and assisted her in learning to speak English. He lived the remainder of his life in Philadelphia with his wife and children working as a Carpenter.
*Geneology records show Anna's Mother's maiden name spelled as "Piecek." The "original" spelling of the name Piecek, as given by Anna herself is "Piech." Although the name looks to be pronounced as "peach" Anna stated it is instead pronounced as "Pee-ack."
