Sister Lorraine Burns, SSND
June 25, 1931 – January 11, 2025
Lorraine Burns, in her autobiography, wrote that she was born on the night of June 25, 1931, in Buffalo, New York. Her parents were both Buffalonians, Lillian Josephine Bauer and Henry Joseph Burns. She had one older brother and was followed by two sisters and another brother. For her grammar school education, she was taught by Sisters of St. Joseph. After graduation in 1945, Lorraine went for one year to St. Mary’s Business School, in Buffalo, where she met our Sisters. While there, she decided to continue high school under Sister Dosithea Sheehy’s guidance at the SSND Juniorate in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
When she graduated three years later, Lorraine received the Bonnet at St. Mary’s, and traveled to the Candidature in Baltimore, Maryland. Teaching 2nd grade at two schools: Blessed Sacrament in Baltimore, and St. John in Bergenfield, N. J. were her missions during her first two years. Mary Ronald was the religious name given her at Reception in 1951. First vows followed in 1952, and final Profession in 1958. From Seton Hall University, she earned two degrees—a B.S. in elementary education in 1961, and an M.A. in secondary education in 1971.
At St. Leo School in Irvington, New Jersey, “Ronnie” spent the next nine years, and then was missioned to Holy Family School in Rochester, New York for three years. In 1964, she became a secondary teacher at St. Joseph Business School until 1968, before being called to St. Boniface School as Principal for a five-year term.
Lorraine joined the missionaries, who since 1970 had been pioneering SSND education in West Africa. As preparation, she studied Missiology at St. Paul University, Ottawa, Canada. At St. Philomena School and Bishop Juwle High School in Zwedru, Liberia, she taught elementary school and evening classes to women from 1974 to 1977.
After returning to the States, Lorraine served as Province Mission Coordinator starting in 1981. She added this much-loved service to her many contributions. Nine years as Principal at St. John Evangelist in Watertown, Connecticut, was followed by a return to her beloved Holy Family School in Rochester, this time as Principal until 2003.
From here in 1992, Lorraine was selected to attend, as one of 12 Principals, the 1992 National Catholic Principals Academy in Washington, DC. Sponsored by the NCEA it was designed to recognize exceptional Catholic School Principals and build a national support network committed to leadership in Catholic education.
When all the seven SSND schools in Rochester had closed, sisters there wanted to start something new that would continue our presence in the city which went back to 1854. Sister Lorraine became the Foundress of Notre Dame Learning Center, a tutoring center that has now celebrated 20 years, and served hundreds of children.
At the beginning of Lorraine’s funeral liturgy, Sister Evelyn Breslin thanked all "for coming to celebrate Lorraine: religious woman, family member, friend, teacher, administrator, and in her retirement caregiver.” She spoke of Lorraine’s 38 years in Rochester and asked the folks from Holy Family if they remembered a bell she was holding up that Lorraine “went up and down daily ringing.”
Evelyn said: “Lorraine had three families. The Burns Family from Buffalo: parents Harry and Lillian, sisters Patricia and Dolores Malinowski and two brothers Marvin (Mickey) and Ronald; many nieces and nephews. Her second family, the Walczaks, family of her good friend, Sister Stephania; and her third family of SSND.
As teacher and administrator, Lorraine enjoyed her staff, students, and her ministry. As was said by a colleague, ‘Lorraine’s service focused on the Gospel message—she was kind and loving to all. Her Rosary given to her by her brother Ronnie was part of her daily routine as was daily Mass and communion—sometimes on TV at 9:00 am!’”
Evelyn read part of a letter from a former student:
Dear Sister Ronald, You were my 4th grade teacher; I am the little girl from Argentina who did not speak English. You were kind, patient and compassionate to me and partnered me with other students to read and help me learn this new language. I remember reciting the Commandments and memorizing many prayers. You made a big difference in my life and today I help students who are non-English speaking by volunteering and reading to them.
Evelyn ended with a reflection from our SSND General Directory “Personal Development in Community,” that speaks of a Sister’s development throughout her life:
Trusting that God always calls us to fullness of being, we recognize and respond to Him in whatever way he calls. Our personal development in community is ongoing, reaching its culmination in death and entrance into the fullness of life. (You are Sent, GD 124)
We will remember Lorraine always!
The funeral Mass took place Saturday, February 1, 2025, at St. Theodore’s Church in Rochester, NY. Father Kevin McKenna celebrated the liturgy; Father Anthony Mugavero (Holy Apostles Church), Father Richard Brickler (St. Boniface) and Father William Donnelly (St. Ann’s) were concelebrants. Many family members and friends attended the Mass which was followed by a reception prepared by students and friends of Lorraine from her days at Holy Family School in Rochester. Lorraine’s interment will take place in the Spring at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in the section where all Rochester Sisters are buried.
Sisters Kay O’Connell, SSND and Evelyn Breslin, SSND
