Elizabeth Ann Bush

January 27, 1935 – June 28, 2024

89 years old

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our mother, Elizabeth Ann Bush, due to injuries from a fall. Mom was known to many as Betty, but those who loved her most called her Grandma Betty.

Elizabeth Ann Burns was born and raised in the tiny hamlet of New Boston on January 27, 1935, as the daughter of Carl and Margaret Mahar Burns and the sister of Neil. She attended the country school in New Boston and graduated from Lowville Academy in 1952.

Mom married our father, Charles C. Bush, on May 7, 1955, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in New Bremen. He passed away on June 26, 1983. Our family was raised in New Bremen, and mom spent the last two years of her life as a resident at the Lewis County Residential Health Care Facility.

She is survived by three sons and their wives and children: Crock and Cathy (Nicole), Michael and Melissa (Marcus and Melinda), Tim and Dianna (Megan and Charlie); two daughters and their husbands and daughters: Sandy and Mike Birchenough (Hannah and Kylee), Jannelle and Duane Berry (Rebecca, Shannon, and Chelsea); 17 great-grandchildren whom mom adored and loved during their visits to see her in the nursing home; brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, and cousins. Mom was preceded in death by her mother and father, brother Neil, and sister-in-law Ruth Burns.

Mom worked at General Telephone Co. as a telephone operator from 1952 to 1955. After that, she became a stay-at-home mom until all her children were in school. We were very fortunate to have such a kind, compassionate, and fun-loving mother who always put her family first. During her years at home, Mom also took care of other children. In 1973, she began working in the scheduling department at Payne and Jones Paper Co., where she stayed until her retirement in 1995. She was an honorary member of the New Bremen Fire Auxiliary and a member of St. Peter's Rosary Society of New Bremen and St. Stephen's Church in Croghan.

Our mother enjoyed traveling with Aunt Ruth, monthly euchre card games, puzzles, ceramics, golfing with Linda, and never passed on a polka dance, especially with her son-in-law, Duane. Mom was very proud of being from Tug Hill and loved being spoiled as a child by her Tug Hill aunts and uncles. She especially enjoyed watching her grandchildren and seldom missed an event that involved them. One memorable sporting event that she was most proud of attending was a girls' varsity soccer game, Beaver River vs Lowville, where five of her granddaughters played against each other.

Calling hours for our mom will be on Sunday, June 30th, from 4-7 o'clock at the Sundquist Funeral Home in Lowville. The funeral will be held at St. Peter's Church in New Bremen on Monday, July 1st, at 10:00 am, with burial to follow immediately at the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in her memory to the Lewis County Hospital Foundation specific to the "Jenny Teal Halko" Palliative Care Room or the New Bremen Fire Auxiliary.