Vera Burns passed away peacefully at home in Oakdale, California at the age of 95. She was born Vera O’Neill in Manchester, England, and came to the United States in 1928. Vera lived in Maplewood, New Jersey, and graduated from Columbia High School in 1936. She worked at the Prudential Insurance Company in Newark, New Jersey, where she met Norman E. Burns, who became her husband of 55 years. They were married in 1943. After Norman’s service in World War II he returned to The Prudential, which transferred him to Los Angeles in 1947. Vera and Norman raised their three children in Los Angeles and Palos Verdes, California, where she worked as a residential real estate broker. Vera and Norman moved to Santa Barbara in 1974, where they enjoyed a long and happy retirement. After Norman’s death in 1999 Vera moved to Oakdale to live with her daughter Carol.
In Oakdale, as in every place she lived, Vera’s life was marked by friendships, service to others, and enduring love for her family.  She was active in the Women’s Service Club of Goleta and a member of the Community Christian Reformed Church in Oakdale. An avid bridge player in Santa Barbara and later at the Senior Center in Oakdale, she will be missed by many in both communities. Vera is survived by her three children, Randall S. Burns (Connie), Kenneth N. Burns (Irene), and Carol A. Earnest (Kevin Schmitt); grandchildren Brandon D. Burns (Genevieve), Allison Burns Murillo (Bob), Jason Miyasato (Danielle), Chad Miyasato, and Jonathan Schmitt (Amanda), and Jennifer Schmitt; great-grandchildren Peyton and Morgan Burns, Zachary Murillo, Bowen, Wyatt, Logan and Dalton Miyasato, and Abigail and Caleb Schmitt. A memorial service to give thanks for the life of Vera Burns will be held on November 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Community Christian Reformed Church, 131 West F Street, Oakdale, California. A memorial service will also be held in Santa Barbara early in 2016.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oakdale Gladys Lemmons Senior Community Center 450 East A Street, Oakdale, California 95361 or to the charity of your choice.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
Nov. 11, 2015