Obituary of Wilfred Nelson Burnside

PORTLAND - Wilfred Nelson Burnside, "Wil", age 88, of West Avenue, Portland died Sunday, June 5, 2011 at Westfield Memorial Hospital, following an extended illness. Mr. Burnside was born on October 2, 1922 in the Town of Portland, NY, the son of the late William and Ida Maude (Bishop) Burnside. He had been a Portland resident all his life. Wilfred had been employed by the Railroad for a brief time, had farmed his own grape farm, was an accomplished carpenter and builder and finally retired from the NYS Thruway Authority as a Toll Collector in the mid 1980's. Wil was active man who never sat still; however, he did enjoy reading. He loved to spend time with his family. Wilfred was a member of the American Legion, the Cherry Creek VFW, and the Dunkirk Moose Lodge. He was also a member of St. Dominic Roman Catholic Parish of Brocton, where he served as an usher. He is survived by his wife: Norma H.(Zocki) Burnside, whom he married on August 22, 1986 in Portland, his three daughters: Linda (John) Murgatroyd of Fredonia, NY, Brenda Merrill of Brocton, NY, Debbie (Thomas) Moore of Lakewood, NY and his one son: Douglas (Lisa) Burnside of Florida, NY, his two step-daughters, Sharon Markham and Susan (Timothy) Wagner, and his step-son, William (Diane) Henris all of Portland, NY. 5 Grandchildren, 6 great Grandchildren, 6 step-Grandchildren and 2 step-great Grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Vivian (Mawhir) Burnside who died in 1985, his brother, Wallace Burnside, and his 2 sisters, Millicent Best and Mae Marie Casterton. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Friday morning at 11:30 AM at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, 12 Central Ave., Brocton, NY, with Deacon Wm. Boneberg officiating. Private burial will be in Portland Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Portland Vol. Fire Dept., Portland, NY 14769. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY 14787. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send the Burnside family a message of sympathy.