Thomas J. Burns, Sr., 85 of Whiting, passed away Thursday, August 9, 2012 at Van Dyke Hospice in Toms River.  Born in Millstone Twp., he was a resident of Bordentown for most of his life before moving to Whiting in 1992.  Thomas was a graduate of Allentown High School; in 1992, he retired from Tiger Distributors in Ewing, where he worked for 26 years.  He was a member and Eucharistic Minister for many years at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Whiting.  Thomas was a devoted family man and a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Son of the late Thomas and Nellie Burns, he was predeceased by four sisters, Katherine Gloff, Ellen Preston, Mary Burns and Agnes Lawless.  Thomas is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Elizabeth A. Burns; his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Thomas Diveley of Columbus; his son and daughter-in-law, Thomas Jr. and Jeanette Burns of Pennington; four grandchildren, Jeffrey and his wife Melissa Danbury, Michael and his wife Jackie Danbury, Thomas J. Burns, III and Katelyn Burns; three great grandchildren, Brayden, Elizabeth and Amelia Danbury; a sister, Margaret Travis of Holmdel as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11am on Monday, August 13 ^th at St. John's Church, 1282 Yardville Road, Allentown.  Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.   Friends may call Sunday from 5-7pm and again Monday from 9:30-10:30am at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St. Allentown.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Van Dyke Hospice and Palliative Care Center at Community Medical Center, 99 Highway 37 West, Toms River, NJ 08755.