Community Honors Susan Burrows’ Legacy at Heartfelt Funeral Ceremony

A profound sense of remembrance and respect filled the chapel at Roberts Funeral Home on Monday as the Forest Lake community gathered to celebrate the life of Susan Burrows, who passed away on January 19, 2025, at the age of 73. The beloved community member, artist, and longtime advocate for veterans was honored in a moving ceremony that paid tribute to her many contributions—particularly through her dedicated service with the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Unit 225.

Susan, who was born on June 9, 1951, was a familiar and cherished presence within the American Legion Family in Forest Lake. Known for her warmth, creativity, and support of local veterans, Susan’s legacy was reflected in the unique and heartfelt ALA Funeral Ceremony performed by members of both Unit 225 of Forest Lake and Unit 556 of Lino Lakes.

At her family’s special request, each Auxiliary member placed a red poppy in Susan’s casket during the service—a touching symbol of remembrance for veterans and a poignant tribute to Susan’s work within the ALA. As Unit 225’s President and Chaplain read the solemn words of the Funeral Ceremony, there were few dry eyes in the room. The ceremony honored Susan not only as a devoted member of the Auxiliary but also as a compassionate and creative spirit who lived her values each day.

“Susan was a kind of member of the Unit,” said one fellow Auxiliary member. “She was our Sargeant-at-Arms for years. She gave her heart to our mission.”

In addition to her organizational contributions, Susan was admired for her artistic talents. She was known for painting lovely pictures and crafting unique handmade gifts, many of which she sold at the annual American Legion craft sale in Forest Lake. Her creativity brought joy to many and helped raise funds for local veteran programs—yet another reflection of her giving spirit.

True to her generous nature, Susan’s family invited attendees to select a keepsake from her extensive collection of arts, crafts, and donkey figurines—a personal passion of hers that brought smiles to all who knew her. In one final act of charity, her family announced that the remaining craft items would be sold at the December 2025 ALA craft sale, with all proceeds going directly to Unit 225 and its veteran support programs.

As friends and loved ones bid farewell, there was a shared sense of gratitude for Susan’s unwavering commitment to her community, her creativity, and above all, her love for those who served. Her legacy will continue to live on through every handmade item, every red poppy, and every life she touched.

Susan Burrows will be deeply missed—but never forgotten.

Funeral Service

The American Legion Auxiliary service is non-sectarian. Therefore, it may be varied in accordance with the religious belief of the deceased. The wish of the family of the deceased, and of the officiating pastor, should be respected.

Music

Unit President: “Death has entered our ranks and members of (name of Unit) of the American Legion Auxiliary are here to pay tribute to one who has been called to the High Command.”

Chaplain: “Let us pray. God of infinite Love and Mercy, draw near to us in this hour of grief. Open our hearts to Your comforting presence and our eyes to the realities of Eternal Life. May the darkness of death be replaced by the dawn of eternity, and the present pangs of separation to the joys of future reunion.

Grant us, O Father, that our present sorrow may bring us closer to You, and that our hearts may be cleansed and purified by Your grace. We thank You for the understanding that death does not really separate us from the departed. Help us to look beyond the grave and see the glories of that new Life. Help us to know that our loved ones who have passed on are not dead but are living and enjoying Your Grace and Love more than when here upon earth.

O Father, we earnestly pray for our departed member, that this member may enter into all the joys of the life beyond. We pray that by cherishing the memory of this member and by cultivating Your presence, we, too, may grow up into that more perfect Life in which death has no power and sin no part. Amen.”

Alternative prayer.

“Let us pray. Lord of all life, You have taught us the measure of our days. We are strangers with You and sojourners, as our fathers were. Our days are as a shadow and there is none abiding. But you abide. Your years fail not. You never change. A thousand years in Your sight is but as yesterday when it has passed. The grass withers, the flowers fade, but Your word endures forever. And therein is our help and hope.

You heal the broken hearted and bind up the wounds. Comfort Your people, in their sorrow. May there be no bitterness, no doubt of Your eternal goodness. Have them know that You have not mocked us with this stubborn hope of life eternal; that having created and cared for us You will not desert us to the dust; that You hold us with a love unfailing; that our dead are in Your keeping; and that You are able to do for them above all that we ask or think.

Until for us also the daybreak and shadows flee away, grant us to so live that our lives may honor the members who have gone before us. Together may we come to that City which You have prepared for them that love You and keep Your commandments. For Your own name’s sake we pray, Amen.”

Music

Unit President: “Eternal rest grant unto this member, O Lord.”

Chaplain: “And let perpetual light shine upon this member.”

Unit President: “May this member rest in peace.”

Chaplain: “Amen.”

Unit President: “May the soul and the souls of all faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”

Chaplain: “Amen.”

Prayer

Chaplain: “Let us pray. O God, our heavenly Father, who ushered Your children into life and recall the soul to Yourself in Your own good time. We thank You for the sweet memory of those dear to us who have been gathered to their fathers. We praise You for all the hallowed influences of our lives and for the rest and peace which they have found with You. May they still be a joy and an inspiration to us; may they quicken us to a more useful life, to higher hopes and greater contentment of spirit, so that in our departure we, too, may leave a memory and example that shall serve as a hope and inspiration to those who follow us.

Send Your consolation, we pray You, to those who today recall the loss of loved ones. Speak peace to hearts that are wounded by recent bereavement. Comfort them with the thought of Your wisdom and justice, which You in Your fatherly love grants to Your trusting children.

In final submission to Your will and in joyous hope of life everlasting, we praise You in whose hands are the souls of all creatures and the spirits of all flesh.”

Unit President: “Extolled and hallowed by the name of God throughout the world which He has created, and which He governs according to His righteous will. Just is He in all His ways, and wise are all His decrees. May His kingdom come, and His will be done in all the earth.”

Chaplain: “Praised be the Lord of life, the righteous Judge forevermore. Amen.”

Music if desired.

Unit President: “This final moment of visible presence with the one who has left us, is sacred. Let us not remember this one in anguish. Tears or words of sympathy cannot bring back the comfort of those loving hands, or the music of the voice that is stilled. Only solemn pride in this member’s service is theirs who live to remember. To those who are left behind, we realize how futile are mere words to express our deep and abiding sympathy in their loss. May they feel that their loved one is at rest and in endless peace. Surely there is an after-life for all who have been loyal and true: a life to which light and peace shall come, where the burden shall be lifted and the heartache shall cease, where the love, the hope, and the fulfillment that escapes us here shall be given to us to be ours forever.”

When there is a service at the home, the President and members may at this point place a poppy or carnation within or upon the coffin.

Benediction by Chaplain (if desired).

Unit President: “Goodbye, till morning come again, We part, if part we must, with pain, But night is short, and hope is sweet, Faith fills our hearts, and wings our feet And so we sing the old refrain, Goodbye, till morning come again, Goodbye, till morning come again, The thought of death brings weight of pain But could we know how short the night That falls, and hides them from our sight, Our hearts would sing the old refrain, Goodbye, till morning come again.”

At the Graveside

If no previous American Legion Auxiliary service has been held, the service for church chapel or home may be read at the grave, prior to the following committal Unit President: “Forasmuch as it has pleased God to take unto Himself the soul of our departed member (name), we therefore place these poppies, the memorial flower of the American Legion Auxiliary, in her memory.”

Chaplain places poppies on casket or in some designated place.

Chaplain: “The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace, both now and evermore. Amen.”