In Passing

Betty Burns

Elisabeth (Betty) Burns, 78, of SaddleBrooke, AZ died at 6:51 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2018 at the Casa de la Luz Hospice in Tucson following a five-year battle with lung cancer. She was born in Switzerland on April 6, 1940 to August and Hedwig Fragniere. She came to the United States in 1962 and enjoyed careers in the airline, fashion and television industries in Seattle, WA. She married Tom Burns in Seattle on December 30, 1983. Upon retirement, they moved to SaddleBrooke, AZ in 1996. She was an avid cyclist with the SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters, competing in the El Tour de Tucson in 1999 and 2001 and a gold and silver winner in the Arizona Senior Olympics. Golf, with the SaddleBrooke Niners, was a sport she enjoyed until her love of horses led her to learn riding Paso Fino horses, becoming a “Blue Ribbon” winner at the Western Region of the American Paso Fino Association in Scottsdale. Later, Betty was a volunteer for many years at the horse rescue ranch, “Heart of Tucson” where she became a “mucker” for the horses.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, August and Hedwig and brother, Bert Pfeffer of Seattle.

She is survived by her husband, Tom Burns of SaddleBrooke; “Duke” Burns (her beloved Bichon Frese puppy); brother, Serge Fragniere of Perth, Australia; nieces, Michele Pfeffer and Renee McDonald of Seattle; and sisters-in-law, Gretchen Beuttler of Seattle and Gretchen Wernett-Pfeffer of Poland.

The memorial mass was held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at noon, at Santa Catalina Catholic Church. The Celebration of Life was held at 2:30 p.m. (following the Mass), at the Vistoso Funeral Home. Betty would prefer, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, the SaddleBrooke Pet Rescue Network, 63457 E Squash Blossom Lane or Casa de la Luz Hospice at 7740 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704.