Dawn Burgess

Dawn Burgess died peacefully at her home, February 17, 2024 surrounded by family, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease, at the age of 82. Dawn was born on February 16, 1942 in Troy, NY to Floyd and Anna Bronson.

Dawn was very active in her church. She and her late husband, Irwin, taught a special needs Sunday School class and she would translate for the deaf during worship services. She loved singing.  She was involved with Sweet Adelines, Acapella Barbershop Harmony. She sang in her church choir and Dawn would sometimes use Sign Language to “sing” a special at church.

While living in Cohoes, Dawn and Irwin drove for Star & Strand. This job is where Dawn’s love for special needs children started. There was a time when her daughter, Sherrie, was riding the bus. While roads were covered with snow and ice they were going to pick up a student. While going through an intersection the bus started to slide. Dawn called the station and told Schneider that she was not going to move the bus.

Dawn’s children would frequently laugh at her because of her active dreams, which she would join in the laughter. One such occasion was when Dawn had a dream in which she was shooting mice that were tying up her legs. During this dream she was sharing a bed with her daughter, Sherrie, while her grandson and son-in-law were doing a civil war reenactment. Sherrie was startled awake when Dawn started making noises. Sherrie thought she was having a seizure until she realized her mom was dreaming. When Sherrie asked her mom about the dream, Dawn told her she was shooting the mice tying her up. Both had a good laugh. When the family was told they all shared in the laughter.

Dawn is preceded in death by her Father Floyd Bronson, Mother Anna Bronson, Husband Raymond Desnoyers, Husband Irwin Burgess, Son-in-Law Willard Bell, Stepson Wallace Burgess, Stepdaughter Lucielle D’Allaird, Brother Albert Bronson and Grandson Daniel Desnoyers.

Those left to cherish her memory are, son Raymond Desnoyers, son Richard Desnoyers and wife Melissa; son Scott Desnoyers and wife Anna, son Bill Desnoyers and wife Tina, daughter Raeann Bell, daughter Laurie Connell and husband Ben, daughter Sherrie Emory and husband Doug, step-daughter Della Burgess, and sister in law Nancy Bronson. Dawn is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephew, and cousins.

The Family would like to thank Dawn’s caretaker, Caleigh Adams “The Help” and Allegiance Healthcare who provided care.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 29, from  9:30 AM - 11:00 AM.at Neal Funeral Home in Cleveland, TX.  Burial will follow at The Houston National Cemetery at 12:30 PM.


You can donate to:
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in Dawn's Honor: https://tribute.michaeljfox.org/tribute-page.php?id=2797&np=true