Ann Burgess of Salina, Kansas, passed away on a beautiful fall day, October 5, 2025. Born on December 7, 1933, she lived most of her 91 years in Salina, surrounded by her large family and countless friends.
Ann graduated from Salina High School and the University of Kansas, where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She remained a faithful Jayhawk and always loved a football tailgate. Following KU, she lived and worked in Kansas City before returning to Salina to become a homemaker and raise her family.
An avid volunteer, she was a Girl Scout leader, an election poll worker, and a member of St. John’s Hospital Auxiliary, Salina Regional Health Center Auxiliary, and P.E.O., just to mention a few. Ann was a devout Catholic and a member of Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, where she devoted numerous hours to helping with funeral lunches and perpetual adoration.
As her children grew up, Ann worked many jobs, her favorites being co-owner of a catering company, travel agent, and employee at Grigsby’s Greenhouse. She had numerous hobbies—playing tennis, bridge, gardening, and walking with friends—and for years enjoyed crafting, crocheting, and knitting. She loved to read, cook, and bake for her large family, and never missed her morning crossword puzzle. She also made time for traveling with family and friends. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched.
Ann is survived by her four daughters, Julie Colahan (Jim), Marty Winkelman, Missy McCarthy (Kent), and Alison Brake (J.D.); and sisters, Janet Denning and Nancy Burns (Clark). Known as “Mamie” to her grandchildren and many others, she is also survived by her ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Burgess; parents, Mary Louise (Schwartz) and C.B. Dodge Jr.; and her sister, Kathy Burton.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at 1:00 p.m., with a rosary prior to the service at 12:30 p.m., at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, with inurnment to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Following the cemetery, there will be a continued celebration of Ann’s life at the Homewood Suites outdoor courtyard, 115 E. Mulberry Street. Ryan Mortuary is handling funeral arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Salina Public Library for Re-Imagining Our Library (301 W. Elm St., Salina, KS 67401) or the Sacred Heart Cathedral Ladies Guild (118 N. 9th St., Salina, KS 67401).