Bette M. Burns, 100, Clarks Summit and Handsome Lake, passed away Wednesday afternoon at Scranton Health Care Center after an illness. She was surrounded by her loving family. Bette was the widow of her beloved husband George Burns, who passed away in 2013. At the time of George's passing the couple had enjoyed 70 years of marriage.

Bette was born May 1, 1925 in Scranton and she was the daughter of the late Hugh and Clare Burke Morris. She was a graduate of West Scranton High School. During World War II, she worked in a Military Arms Factory in New Jersey. She then became a mother, a role she cherished, and took great pride in raising her four children.

Bette was a member of Trinity Congregation Church, Main Street, West Scranton for many years and a participant in Trillium Guild. She also served as a Girl Scout Leader and a den mother for the Boy Scouts of America while her sons were in scouting.

Bette will be deeply missed by her family as she nurtured them her whole life with love and kindness. Her home in Clarks Summit and the cottage at Handsome Lake were always open to family to gather, enjoy each others company and a wonderful meal.

The family would like to sincerely and gratefully thank everyone at the Scranton Health Care Center and Residential Hospice for the dedicated and compassionate care they showed Bette as well as her family.

She is survived by her daughter Bette Ann Burns Damron & her husband Lester of Charlton, MA, her son Dr. H. Donald Burns and his wife Mary Ann of Harleysville, PA. and her son G. Kevin Burns and his wife Lynda of Scranton, PA., her grandchildren Stacey (Wayne) Habermeier, Jennifer (Andy) Young, Melanie (Lou) Ramunno, Eric (Audrey) Burns, Melinda Arcuri and Deanna (Gary) Rosencrans, and great grandchildren Madison and Mackenzie Young, Drew Habermeier, Sophia and Christina Ramunno, Olivia Arcuri (companion Christian Winkler), Iris, and Landry Arcuri and Tyler and Logan Rosencrans; sisters Peg McDowell of Ohio and Judi Ray of Florida; nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Brian Albert, in 1983; sister MariLou Merzweiler. 

Services will be held at a date and time to be announced in the Trinity Congregational Church, 229 S. Main Ave., West Scranton.

Interment, private for immediate family in Abington Hills Cemetery, South Abington Twp.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial contributions be made in Bette's honor to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Grand Central Station. P.O. Box 4777 New York NY 10163