Janice Ivon Burnham

Janice (Tompkins) Burnham, 89, of Sun City Hilton Head passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 11, 2021, surrounded by family at Canterfield of Bluffton, South Carolina.

Jan was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, the daughter of Everett and Grace (Baker) Tompkins. She grew up in Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts and graduated from Turners Falls High School, Class of 1950, where she met and married the love of her life, William Burnham. They enjoyed 53 years together until his death in 2003.

She was a skilled and talented homemaker. She enjoyed reading, playing Bridge, Bunco, and being with her family and friends. Jan will be dearly missed and always remembered.

Jan was a generous, kind, and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by two daughters, Linda (Stan) Topolewski of Sun City Hilton Head, SC, Barbara (Tom) Grala of Algonquin, Illinois; a sister, Bette Putala of Jacksonville, Florida; a sister-in-law, Judith Smith of Phoenix, Arizona; two grandsons, Michael (Jennifer) Topolewski of Mount Prospect, Illinois, Robert (Heather) Topolewski of Roselle, Illinois; and three great granddaughters Hailey, Kayla, and Cassidy. She was predeceased by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Carl (Judy) Tompkins and Neil (Barbara) Tompkins, and brother-in-law Michael Putala.

A memorial will be announced at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

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