Bonnie Ann Burns

Bonnie Ann Burns, 56, of Walpole, passed away on Thursday afternoon, May 7, 2026, at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. She passed peacefully and in the presence of her family. She was born in Boston, the daughter of Edward F. Burns and Mary M. (Mellett) Burns. She grew up in Walpole. She attended local schools and graduated from Walpole High School, class of 1987. She then attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, class of 1991.

After college she moved to Washington D.C. to work for the National Park Service. She became an expert in Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. She spent several years mapping Civil War battlefields for the Park Service. Upon her return home, she worked as a GIS specialist in the Harvard Map Collection, digitizing and georeferencing maps to provide geospatial data for researchers. In time she became the Head of Geospatial Resources for the Harvard Map Collection.

While living in Cambridge she met her husband, Stephen Doe, through mutual friends. They married on December 6, 2003, in Walpole (during an epic blizzard). Bonnie and Stephen were happily married for more than two decades. They eventually moved to Walpole and raised two sons together, Stephen and Brendan. Bonnie was ever busy with her many interests in cooking, gardening, history, knitting, and reading. While Bonnie was a fan of the Red Sox and the Bruins, she enjoyed watching her sons play baseball and soccer most of all.

Bonnie is survived by her family and friends: husband, Stephen M. Doe, of Walpole; sons, Stephen E. and Brendan T. Doe, of Walpole; parents, Edward F. and Mary M. Burns, of Walpole; brother, Edward F. Burns, Jr., of Walpole; brother, Michael Burns and his wife Evelyn, of Plainville; brother, Kevin Burns and his wife Lynn, of Sutton; cousin, Kerry LaSalvia, of Walpole; several nieces and nephews, many more cousins, extended family, and dear friends. She was predeceased by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Stephen F. and Janice M. Doe, of Dayton ME.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Bonnie's Life Celebration on Thursday, May 28th, 2026, from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. Interment will take place privately at Saint Francis Cemetery, Walpole.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Bonnie’s name to World Central Kitchen at PO Box 96538, Washington, DC 20090, or by visiting https://wck.org/donate/