Mary Christine Burton

But above all, she loved her family and her friends. And they all loved her back.

Mary left this world on Feb. 21, 2025, after living a wonderful, eventful and, at times, challenging life. But Mary and her family never allowed those many challenges — physical, emotional and, oftentimes, simply meeting the demands of everyday life — to defeat her. Mary was part of what her Irish ancestors referred to as “the innocents,” a group of vulnerable people who should be protected from harm. Today, we refer to these beautiful children and adults as people with special needs. And Mary was, indeed, “special.”

Mary lived at home her entire life and was part of the family — attending events, celebrating holidays and participating in everyday life. That meant helping with dinner dishes, attending Mass with the family (Mary was not the quietest member of the congregation), befriending the many dogs around the house, playing her “card match” game at the kitchen table, sharing her favorite music, giving tours of her room and her many stuffed animals, and picking up fallen tree branches in the yard which she added to the pile for the next bonfire. She loved babies and could not wait to hold her nieces and nephews’ little ones when they came to visit.

She loved her daily routines: Wheaties for breakfast; playing in the park on the slide and swings; listening to songs on her record player; playing board and card games; watching TV with a special emphasis on sports (the Packers and Notre Dame being the main attractions but figure skating, too). Christmas time was a special treat, and Mary had her own tree with decorations that reflected (among other things) her love for Mickey Mouse and all things Disney.

At home, she often clutched a blanket or similar cloth item, which the family called “danglers,” and gave them a good shaking. Out in the world she enjoyed car rides to the grocery store, the skating rink and McDonald’s. Mary participated in Special Olympics and won numerous medals in her favorite sport, swimming. Her mom, a former schoolteacher, often read books to her that they checked out from the nearby Niagara library. She enjoyed watching softball games (brother Bob is quite a player) and attending events such as the Lions Club annual festival, church fish fries and Knights of Columbus events. Everyone in town knew her, and most everyone greeted her with some kind of affectionate salutation.

At dinner time, when the family prayed, she often remembered friends and relatives who had died, then linked hands with others around the table to sing “Amen.”

The death of a family member or friend was difficult for Mary –especially when it came to understanding what had happened and even more so, accepting it. And so it was especially hard for Mary following the death of her Dad and then, more than a decade later, her Mom. She loved them both dearly and missed them immensely. In her later life, Mary was lovingly cared for by her brother Bob and his wife, Rhonda, in the same house she had shared with her parents.

Mary was in good health until the very last few years of her life. She will be missed by all who knew her and loved her.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, William Burton and Margaret (Lally) Burton. She is survived by her brothers and sisters, Tom Burton (Tracy Ashfield), John Burton (Kristin), Betsy Burton, Kathy Huempfner (Brad) and Bob Burton (Rhonda); cousins Tahlia Burton dos Santos (Tiago), Alayna Miles (Matt), Brianna Hodge (Matt), Jon Chartier, Leigh Collins (Charles), Katie McChesney (Kevin), Megan Biggs (Chyan), Drew Huempfner, Tara Patterson (Brad) and Molly Groeschl (Loren); as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Saturday, June 14 from 9 to 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church on River Street in Niagara. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. A lunch will be served at Niagara Town Hall, located along Highway 8 south of Niagara, following the funeral. A burial service will be held at the chapel of St. Mary Cemetery on West Prospect Avenue in Appleton, Wis. at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 15. She will then be laid to rest next to her parents.

Memorials may be made in Mary’s name to the Niagara Public Library, 1029 Roosevelt Road, Niagara, WI 54151-1417 or the Niagara Knights of Columbus, 1402 River St., Niagara. Please keep Mary and her family in your hearts and in your prayers.

Condolences to the family of Mary Burton may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.