WINDHAM – Julie Anne Burns, 56, of Windham, passed away unexpectedly after a long battle with severe asthma on March 14, 2022. She was born in Augusta on Oct. 8, 1965, a daughter of the late Michael D. Burns, and Barbara T. Burns.

Julie grew up on Concord Street in Portland. She attended high school at Deering High eventually graduating from Cony High in Augusta. After high school, she moved to beautiful Gold Hill, Colo., where she gave life to her two children. Life brought her back to the state of Maine, where she worked with her father at Burnsie’s Sandwich Shop in Augusta. Julie later moved back to Portland, where she obtained an associate’s degree in Computer Science from Andover College. From there, she used her computer skills as the Wine Administrator / Desktop Publisher for National and Nappi Distributors. Later in life, Julie found her niche working as the Laundry Supervisor for nearly a decade at the Barron Center for the City of Portland. Before her passing, she was ecstatic to be working at Lowe’s in Windham as a Sales Associate in Home Decor.

People were drawn to Julie, her vibrancy, love for life, and contagious laugh that could be picked out from a room of hundreds; perhaps maybe thousands. Julie was extraordinary, she lit up every room she walked into, all while creating lifelong friends in the process. Her greatest strength was her adept ability to see the good in everyone. She judged absolutely nobody.

An avid gardener, Julie took extreme pride in her vegetable and flower beds. She was also a proud Nana and loved her grandchildren more than life itself. Julie enjoyed rock and roll and music in general, always cranking tunes louder than most people thought tolerable, so she could feel the music due to her hearing impairment. In the summer, you would have found her riding Jet Skis or hanging by the beach at Sebago Lake, or swimming in the ocean in Southern Maine.

Julie is survived by her brothers Jeffery D. Burns and Jason P. Burns; her children Jianna M. Donisvitch, and Jared M. Donisvitch; her grandchildren Hailee N. Walker, Alexis E. Walker, John M. Donisvitch, and Baron D. Karantza; her nieces and nephew, Angela Libby, Julia Burns, and Jacob Burns; and her loving friend, Andrew Thorne.

She was predeceased by her brother, John “Jack” R. Burns.

Please join her family for a celebration of her life from 12 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 27 at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, where a service will follow at 2 p.m.

The family suggests attendees wear light, bright, and colorful clothing, rather than the typical dark attire, as Julie would wish for nothing less.

Please visit http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Julie’s online guest book.

In lieu of flowers,

please send gifts to the:

Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland

P.O. Box 336

Westbrook, ME 04098 or at http://www.arlgp.org/memorial

Copy the Story Link