May 18, 1925 – July 20, 2013

NATCHEZ — Services for Theresé Marguerite Chouest Burns, 88, of Natchez, who died Saturday, July 20, 2013, at her residence will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. Leopold Keffler officiating.

Burial will follow in the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Tuesday at St. Mary Basilica.

Mrs. Burns was born May 18, 1925, in Larose, La., the daughter of Euzebe “Neb” Chouest and Annette Ordoyne Chouest.

She was a graduate of Larose High School and attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette. She met the love of her life, Peter Burns Sr., when he was services in the U.S. Coast Guard and stationed in Grand Isle, La. They were married on Dec. 23, 1943. After completing his services overseas in World War II, Mr. and Mrs. Burns returned to his hometown of Natchez to begin their lives together.

Mrs. Burns was a wife and a mother, as well as a talented seamstress. She sewed many of her daughters’ Pilgrimage pageant dresses and hand-embroidered linen items to be sold in the “linen chest” each year for the Cathedral School Fall Festival.

Mrs. Burns supported the Natchez Swim Association. She loved playing bridge and belonged to several bridge groups. She was a member of St. Mary Basilica, the Pilgrimage Garden Club, the Newcomers Club, the Krewe of Phoenix and the Krewe of Killarney.

Mrs. Burns was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 66 years, Peter Theophile Burns Sr.; and one sister, Elsie Chouest.

Survivors include her sons, Parnell Burns, Peter Burns Jr. and wife, Diane, of Natchez, John Burns and Michael McGehee of Atlanta, David Burns and wife, Shirley, of Cut Off, La., and Paul Burns and wife, Laura, of Natchez; daughters, Annette Burns and husband, Charles; Ann Shaidnagie and husband, James, of Natchez, Melanie Kennedy and husband, Rick, of Vidalia; grandchildren Conner Burns of Natchez, Theresa B. Anderson and husband, Russ, of Charlotte, N.C., Max Mullins and wife, Libby of Jasper, Texas, Elizabeth M. Turner and husband, Blake of Natchez, Francis “Trey” Burns and wife, Melissa, of Houston, Brandi B. Klein and husband, Andrew, of Brandon, Sara B. Searcy and husband, Brett of Cypress, Texas, Fletcher Mims of Natchez, Carter Burns of Jackson, Dr. Tyler Burns of Little Rock, Ark., Patrick Vogt Jr. of Natchez, Davin Burns and wife, Angelique, Dain Burns of Larose, La., Peter Burns III of Nashville, and Harrison Burns of Natchez; great-grandchildren Brendan and Brigid Anderson, Brittany Torrence and husband, Cully, Brooks Turner, Makayla and Madison Burns, Adriana, Destyn, Ashton and Eastyn Burns, John Grady Klein, Mason and Ellie Grace Searcy and Marijain Burns; great-great-grandchild James Campbell Blunschi; sibling Hazel Faulk of Larosa; two sisters-in-law, Ann Elizabeth B. Garrity of Natchez and Alice W. Burns of Forest; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Pallbearers will be Billy Abbott, Dr. Tom Borum, Andy Burns, Tim Burns, Pat Burns Jr., Bob Faulk, Jim Faulk, Dr. Byron Garrity, Joe Garrity and Henry Leblanc.

The Burns family is very grateful for the care given by the medical staff at Natchez Regional Medical Center, Promise Hospital, Franklin County Memorial Hospital, Deaconess Hospice, Susan Prunty from Personal Homecare Services in Vidalia and Mary Williams.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Burns-Grady Family Memorial Trust, Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson at P.O. Box 2248, Jackson, MS, 39225, which supports Cathedral School, or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.