Obituary of Marie Jemma Linda Burgess

BURGESS, Marie Jemma Linda, of Rocky Bay It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved mother, nannie, nana, sister, aunt, and friend, Linda Burgess (Hearn) of Rocky Bay. Linda died peacefully with her loving family by her side at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish on December 25, 2023. Born March 23, 1949, in Rocky Bay, she was the daughter of the late John and Valerie Hearn (Petitpas) of Rocky Bay. On May 24, 1967, she married Kenny, the love of her life. Together they raised four children. She gave her heart and soul to her family, and her selflessness had no boundaries. She was a stay-at-home mom who never hesitated to put their needs before her own. As a grandmother, she showed unconditional love to her grandchildren Gregory, John Ross, Allisha, Kaitlin, Megan, Madison, Leland, and loved to spoil them. The joy of her life for the last two years was her great-granddaughter Skylar. Linda also loved her siblings. They remained very close friends right to the end. Even though her passing has left a great void in our lives, we will take great comfort in the love and memories that were made over the years. We will honor her by living by the values she instilled in us: kindness, love, compassion, and the belief that life is too short so we should live every day as if it were our last. Linda is survived by her children, Lee Anne (Earle) Martell, Rocky Bay, Ken (Angela) Burgess, Estevan, Sask., Tracey (Robert) Bowness, Lower Sackville, and Jennifer (Steven) Forgeron, Arichat. She is also survived by her sisters Betty Burgess, Dartmouth, Mildred (Leonard) Doyle, Arichat, brother Jack (Ann) Hearn, Janvrin’s Island; godmother Gemma Poirier, and godson Shane Doyle. She will be dearly missed by all her nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her loving husband Kenny; mother and father-in-law, Barbara, and Gerald Burgess. Cremation has taken place. There will be a celebration of life at a later date. The family is grateful to Dr. Laurie MacNeil for his many years of care given to her. She certainly appreciated the exceptional care that he provided. We would also like to thank St. Martha’s Regional Hospital for their compassion, understanding, and exceptional care that our mother received, EHS for their amazing care and also Norma and Ashley at C. H. Boudreau Funeral Home for their compassion and professionalism. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (Nova Scotia) or to St. Martha’s Palliative Care in Antigonish. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home Ltd., Arichat. Tributes, words of comfort, and memories of Linda may be shared with the family at www.chboudreau.com