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Winifred and her future husband, Robert A Burns, built a long-distance love story, truly one for the books.

New Portland – Winifred “Winnie” Ellen (St. Louis) Burns, passed away July 26, 2026, at the age of 93. Winifred was born on September 1, 1932, in Rockville Connecticut, the daughter of Arthur A. St. Louis and Mildred E (Usher) St. Louis. Winifred spent her childhood on her parent’s farm in Rockville Connecticut. She participated in 4 H Clubs in Connecticut and attended Ogdens Corner School in Vernon Connecticut, St. Bernards School in Rockville Connecticut, graduating in 1947 then graduating from Rockville High School, class of 1950.

After high school, Winifred went into the workforce, working for a few years at John Dailey Jr. Auto Dealer. It was during this time she started receiving letters from a soldier stationed overseas. Through these letter’s Winifred and her future husband, Robert A Burns, built a long-distance love story, truly one for the books. When Robert was wounded in Korea, he was sent back to the states and after being released from the hospital, was stationed in Massachusetts and would spend his free time traveling back and forth to visit Winifred on her parent’s farm. About four years later, Winifred moved to Maine, where she and Robert would marry in Kingfield on September 11, 1954. Residing in Robert’s hometown of New Portland Maine, they made a home and raised their three children, Marie, Robert Jr. and Richard.

Winifred became a full-time homemaker in Maine. She became a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary in Solon and the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary in Kingfield. She was also a member of St. Bernards Church in Connecticut and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Farmington, running the St. Joseph’s fair food booth for the annual Farmington Fair for 22 years. She loved gardening, sewing, crocheting, knitting, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, various other crafts, bird watching and her yearly Christmas village display. Winifred loved dancing; ballroom dancing and tap dancing specifically. She also loved ice skating. Sports were another favorite of “Winnie’s”. It was said “she always had some sort of sports program running on the television, it didn’t matter the season or the sport, she was a fan of them all”

Winifred was known as “Winnie” by those who knew her and as “Love” by her late husband, Robert. Remember her as “a person who did ordinary things in extraordinary ways”.

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She loved gardening, sewing, crocheting, knitting, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, various other crafts, bird watching and her yearly Christmas village display.

Winifred is predeceased by her husband, Robert A Burns; her parents, Arthur and Mildred (Usher) St. Louis; her brothers, Eugene St. Louis, Ellwyn St. Louis, Raymond St. Louis, and Erwin St. Louis; her sisters, Norine Veal, Marion Burke, and Theresa Lavigne; a set of infant sibling twins; her sisters-in-law, Grace St. Louis, Janet St. Louis, Kathe St. Louis, Maryellen St. Louis, and Linda St. Louis; her brothers-in-law, Robert Watson, Anthony Burke, Harold Veal, and Norman Lavigne; She is also predeceased by a grandson, Elmer Monroe III.

She is survived by her children, Marie Monroe, Robert A (Anna Jean) Burns Jr, and Richard A (Leisa) Burns; her grandchildren, Craig (Jackie) Monroe, Audrey Monroe, Rosemarie (Shannon) Rizzotto, and Alton Burns; her great grandchildren, Christian (Taylor)Monroe, Nevaeh Monroe, Raegan Monroe, and Austin Monroe; great great granddaughter, Wren Monroe; her brothers, Everett (Cathleen) St. Louis, Melvin St. Louis, Arthur (Barbara) St. louis, Allan (Gay) St. Louis; sisters, Joan Watson, Linda Tarasek, and Carol (David) Gyngell. She is also survived by more than 50 nephews and nieces and many lifelong friends. 

A graveside service will be held September 1, 2026, at 11:00 am, located at East New Portland Cemetery with refreshments to follow at the American Legion in Kingfield.

Arrangements are under the care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington Maine, where memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.dsfuneral.com