Obituary of Nancy Jean Burton

Nancy Jean Burton

June 21, 1950 -

September 16, 2021

With profound sadness, the family and friends of Nancy Burton (née Drake) announce her passing to be with her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on September 16, 2021.

Nancy was born in St. Catharines to parents, Jean Margaret (née Thurlow) and Gordon Francis Drake, the younger sister (and only sibling) to Holly Francis Drake. She grew up in Campden, Ontario, where her father, together with his partner, Jack McMillan, operated Campden Feed Mill.

After her father’s death, Nancy remained in the family home in Campden, looking after her mother.  When Jean’s health required long term care, Nancy re-located to St. Catharines.

Nancy met the love of her life, Malvin Burton, in 1980.  She resisted his affections for three different calls for a first date – until finally accepting.  After that, it was kismet! They married August 28^th, 1982.  Nancy and Mal spent 29 precious years together, until Jesus called Mal home in 2011.

Nancy and Mal lived in Hamilton, and, after Mal’s passing, Nancy continued to live in Hamilton until December, 2019, when she re-located to Thunder Bay.  Nancy leaves behind dear friends (too many to individually mention) in and around St. Catharines, Hamilton and Thunder Bay, as well as beloved relatives (also too many to individually mention) some of whom habitually participated in the annual “Drake Family Reunion” parties before COVID required a hiatus in 2020 and 2021.

Nancy was pre-deceased by some of those she loved the dearest: her husband, her parents and her sister, Holly, as well as nephews Noah and Gregory Burton (parents Mark and Becky).  Left to mourn on the Drake side of the family are her niece, Jackie Flowers, nephews Ken Wormald and Robert Wormald, and grand-niece, Alyson Flowers.  Caring and mourning in-laws are Mal’s brother Mark (and his wife, Becky, and children Stephanie and Meaghan, and their partners), Mal’s sister, Wendy (and her husband, Ed Wheaton, and children Ryan, Brittany Donovan and Caitlyn, together with their partners and children), and Mal’s sister Heather (and her husband, David, and children Jennifer, Lisa and Jeromy, and their partners and children), along with the countless friends and more distant relatives mentioned above.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held on October 4^th, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at the Vineland Chapel of Tallman Funeral Homes, 3277 King Street, Vineland, Ontario.  Please visit the Tallman Funeral Homes Facebook page to livestream the service on Monday, October 4 at 1:30pm. Private interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, Nancy asks that memorial donations be provided to one or all of the following charities:

Heart & Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca)

Multiple Sclerosis Society  (mssociety.donorportal.ca)

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (ofcp.ca)

Nancy was able to participate in the preparation of this obituary.  She impresses upon all who read this, the following message:

Don’t spend too much time in mourning

Tears are for the sad

I left to be with Jesus

And this should make you glad