Eugene P. Burns

Troy- Eugene P. Burns, passed away peacefully on January 14^th, 2023 with his bride of 70 years, Gloria, by his side. He was the son of James and Lena (Connors) Burns and born at home in Watervliet. Gene was predeceased by his siblings James Burns, Elizabeth McHale, John Burns and William Burns.                                                                                                                                            

Gene is survived by his loving wife Gloria (Milanese) Burns, his children Kim (Melinda) Burns, Deborah (Martin) Byrne, Colleen (Anthony) Accetta, Shawn (Maggie) Burns, Anita (Nancy Franklin) Burns and Damian Burns, 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his beloved brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Sandra Beston, and their extended family- “two families as one”. Gene shared many good times with his wonderful family on trips, dinners, rides, shopping trips and holidays and was always ready to tell a story or share a joke. His family meant the world to him. He cared about them all deeply and was always interested in and supportive of what everyone was doing.                                                

Gene graduated from Watervliet High School in 1947. Gene married the love of his life, Gloria, on October 5th, 1952, spent their honeymoon in Miami, Florida, and recently celebrated 70 years of a wonderful marriage! He opened Hilton’s, an old fashioned grocery delivery store, in Watervliet with her at his side. Gene continued to build a successful career in sales that included positions at Jewel Tea Co., McManus and Riley, Denby’s, Ehler’s Spices, La Touraine, and Troy-Bilt. At the same time, he raised a beautiful family of six children!                                                                                                                                                                        

Gene and Gloria were lifelong members of St. Patrick’s Church in Troy and very active in church activities, including St. Vincent De Paul’s food pantry, many fundraisers and shopping for holiday clothing and toys for the children. Gene was a charter member of the Watervliet Historical Society and involved in supporting the museum there. Gene gave informative talks at town halls, historical societies and Hudson Valley Community College about the history of Watervliet and the Meneely bells of West Troy (Watervliet). He loved foreign stamps and researched the locations of nearly 4,500 bells of the over 65,000 bells that were manufactured there. His research led to the recent publication of The Meneely Bells of West Troy, New York (Watervliet), fulfilling a lifelong dream to publish a book about the bells.                                                                                                                                                        

Gene loved being with his family and watching it continue to grow. He loved traveling to York Beach, Maine, on vacation each summer with many of the family- sometimes over 80 people! A commemorative brick near Nubble Lighthouse, says “Loving York Beach since 1957”. Gene and Gloria enjoyed traveling to Bermuda, Europe, Hawaii, Colorado and Florida.                            

Donations in Gene’s memory may be made to the Watervliet Historical Society, 1501 First Ave., Watervliet, NY 12189                

Family and friends may call between 9:30-11:30 am on Friday January 20, 2023 at McLoughlin & Mason Funeral Home, 8 109 St., Troy, NY 12182. A funeral mass will follow at St. Augustine’s Church at 12:00 pm and interment at Albany Rural Cemetery.       Please visit www.mcloughlinmason.com