Patricia M. (Meenan) Burrows

Patricia Marie (Meenan) Burrows, age 82, passed away on Monday, May 22nd, surrounded by her family. Patricia, lovingly known as Pat or Grammy to friends and family, is survived by her children, Richard Burrows, Paul Burrows, and Patricia Collins, as well as their spouses, Bernadette Pugh, William Dameron, and Andy Collins. Pat lost her husband, Richard (Dick) Earnest Burrows, last year on July 10th.

Patricia was born on December 29th, 1940, in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Paul L. Meenan and Anna (Curtin) Meenan. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and Ron O’Keefe of Stoneham, and brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Yana Meenan of Boston. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Philip Burrows of Concord, New Hampshire. Pat grew up in Stoneham, MA, where she met Richard, the boy next door. The family moved to Tyngsboro in 1972 and lived there for 30 years.

Patricia had many careers over the years. She ran the Burrows household, drove school buses for the Tyngsboro school system, and worked at Lowell General Hospital. However, she will be most remembered for her love of children.

Dick and Pat’s mantra was always, we make a place for everyone. In 1968, the year before their daughter arrived, they opened their home to the first of 88 foster children. A six-year-old boy from the Home for Little Wanderers in Waltham, Massachusetts was the first to join the family Christmas photo. Over four decades, an empty frame was kept on the wall for a photo of each new child who joined the Burrows family. The capacity that Dick and Pat had for helping children in need was unlimited.

Grammy loved spending time with her grandchildren, and is survived by Krista Burrows, Meghan & Brandon Mays-Burrows, Benjamin Burrows, Alexander Collins, Celine Burrows, and Zachary Collins. She also had step-grandchildren who adored her: Sophie & Marisa Dameron; Jake, Max, Seamus, and Brett Pugh.

The family will be forever indebted to the team of angels at Durgin Pines in Kittery, Maine who provided compassionate and loving care to Pops during the last 15 months of his life.

A celebration of life will take place on June 21st from 4-8 pm at the Establishment Restaurant, 75 Princeton St. North Chelmsford, MA 01863.

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