Josephine "Jo" (Anderson) Burnett

Josephine “Jo” (Anderson) Burnett, 86, of 2308 Conway Road, Ashfield died Saturday, Feb. 3, at the home of her daughter in Conway.

She was born July 28, 1931 in Buckland, the daughter of Canute and Nancy (Hoyt) Anderson.

Jo was a 1949 graduate of Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls.

She married the love of her life Donald Burnett on June 18, 1949 and moved onto the Burnett farm on the Ashfield/Conway town line.  She spent the rest of her life there.

She and Don ran the farm milking cows, cutting cordwood and producing maple syrup until his passing in 1984.  She then continued to help her son and daughter carry on the family traditions.  As her granddaughter said “Branny picked hay up until she was 80”.

She was well known for her maple candy and made the “the best” pancakes and pies.  She was also a great cook and baker feeding many family members and friends.

She and Don started square dancing when she was in high school.  They started western square dancing and she belonged to the Trail Town Twirlers for more than 40 years.  She was also a member of the Swinging Sweethearts Square Dancing club

Jo was involved in both Ashfield and Conway snowmobile clubs.  She also took pictures for many years for the Ashfield Fire Department.

Survivors include her son Willis (Bill) and wife Tina of Conway; daughters Darlene (Alan) Guditis of Florence, Debra Craven of Conway; grandchildren Tim Guditis, Teri Guditis, Caitlin Burnett, David Craven, Heidi Gardner and a great-grandson Andrew Therrien.

She was predeceased by her husband in 1984, her brother George “Bud” Anderson and her son-in-law Walt Craven both in 2015.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2:00 pm at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home in Shelburne Falls.

There are no calling hours.

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