Mildred Arleen (Walsh) Burnham

Mildred Arleen (Walsh) Burnham passed away peacefully at home, January 2nd 2018, while in the loving care of her family.  

Mildred was born in Central Falls Rhode Island on December 8, 1926 to Marion Patt and William Walsh.  She lived in Central Falls until her marriage to Frederick Burnham at which point they moved to Pawtucket and finally settled, in 1960, into a newly built family home in Cumberland.

She and Fred would spend the rest of their lives in Cumberland raising three children, Ron, Bruce, and Leslie.  Mildred instilled in them a love of learning and service to others; this was bolstered by Mildred’s Bachelor’s degree in English and three Master’s degrees (with a successful career thereof) in Health Administration, Counseling, and Special Education/Teaching.  This career in arts and letters was mirrored by her hobbies which included copious amounts of reading and attending musical and theatrical events.

Mildred loved to travel with friends and had logged many worldwide trips to destinations like India, South Africa, China, and Russia.  In addition to this, she was also very much at home taking in her vacation home view on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, or looking out over Narragansett bay while meditating or enjoying a seafood lunch.  Mildred loved animals and always had a dog or cat by her side.

Mildred was the widow of the late Frederick A Burnham and sister to the late Suzanne Munyon. She leaves behind her children, sons Ronald Burnham of Laconia, New Hampshire, Bruce Burnham and his wife Deborah of Cary, North Carolina, and daughter Leslie Pires and her husband Adam Bessette of East Greenwich, RI.  Mildred also leaves three grandchildren; Kimberly Reeves, David Burnham, and Jonathan Burnham, and two great grandsons, Matthew And Nicholas Carr.

Burial will be private.  Friends and family are invited to celebrate Mildred’s life at her daughter’s house, 520 Carrs Pond Road, East Greenwich, RI on Sunday, January 7, from 2 to 5 pm.  In lieu of flowers,  donations may be made to the Providence Animal Rescue League, 34 Elbow Street, Providence, RI 02903 or Hope Hospice and Palliative Care, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904
 

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