Obituary
Jean Ellen Burrowes Dirska, 80, of Edgewater Landing Florida, passed away unexpectedly December 16, 2017 in Florida Hospital New Smyrna. Jean recently relocated from Lusby, Maryland where she had lived for 20 years with her devoted companion John Townsend, her dog Gus and her cat Layla. Born in Baldwin New York June 16, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Edward J Burrowes and Ruth Ellen Bolin Burrowes. She was the sister of the late Ruth Lois Osterwald of Bergenfield, New Jersey. Jean graduated from Baldwin High School NY in 1955 and received a varsity letter for field hockey. After graduation she attended the Methodist Hospital of Brooklyn School of Nursing. She earned her RN pin in 1958. Jean attended her 50th Homecoming Reunion April 26, 2008. She worked as an RN in the operating room and as the Operating Room Manager at Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, Maryland. She received a gold watch at her retirement party hosted by her good friend Candi Jarbo. While living in Lusby after retirement, Jean volunteered at SMILE (Southern Maryland thrift shop and food pantry). She played bells for years at Our Lady Star of the sea. Jean also cherished her position as a judge (essay reader) for the American Legion Auxiliary Post 274 Annual Americanism Honors Essay grades 3-8. “How do I encourage my Friends to show Pride in being an American. Jean loved to read and had been a member of several book clubs. She recently finished “The Roosevelt Women.” When not reading Jean loved gardening, plants, flowers, needlepoint and crafts. She look forward to her annual Family Beach Week in Ocean City with her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. This past November, Jean attended her granddaughter Rachel’s wedding in Charlottesville, Va. She was very excited to visit with family. She is survived by her 5 children Nancy Rambo(Bill), Donnajean Pierson(Dean), Jane Yates, Tom Dirska (Debbie), and Joan Dirska, 12 grandchildren: Blake, Catherine, Zachary, Jake, Jacqueline, Matthew, Rachel, Alex, Joe, Maddie, Sarah and Jack and 4 great grandchildren, Jasmine, Olivia, Colton and Leo. A private service was attended by her children and grandchildren in Edgewater FL.
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