Helen Phyllis Burns

Helen Phyllis Burns passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at the age of 81.

Helen was born in Montebello, California in 1940 to Phillip & Leona Greathead. She was raised in South Gate and graduated from South Gate High School in 1958. She worked for Northrop/Grumman as a “Plans Girl”, and in 1965, met and married her husband of 49 years, Donald Burns. They moved from Lomita to Downey in 1972, where they raised their family.

Helen’s greatest passion in life was animal advocacy. She volunteered for many years at the LA County Animal Shelter where she learned to bathe and groom animals to ready them for adoption. She rescued and fostered countless dogs and had a special knack for matching the perfect pet with the perfect family. She became a Vet Tech at Hollydale Animal Hospital and would groom dogs for friends on the side. In later years, Helen would get involved with the Downey Feral Cat rescue.

Helen was also active in her children’s school and extracurricular activities. She coached Don’s Little League team (Mets) and Denice’s Ponytail Softball team (Foxes), and would serve on both of the boards. She was part of the Warren Bears Band Booster Club, manning the Fireworks Stand, assisting during Bingo and chaperoning school trips.

Helen and Don were also very active with their classic car club and were regulars at local car shows. As a young adult, she was active in the “cruising scene”, and was one of the first to frequent local Downey favorite, “Johnnie’s Broiler”. In later years, Helen would play an instrumental part in saving Johnnie’s Broiler, as she was the one who saw the unpermitted demolition and called the police to stop it. With the support of her friends and car club pals, the “Friends of Johnnie’s” were able to help raise awareness to preserve the local landmark that our city enjoys today as “Bob’s Big Boy.”

Helen will be remembered for her sense of humor, her passion for animals, and a deep sense of community. It was important to her to get involved, and she led by example. She was known to care for and help out her neighbors, especially those who were ill or elderly. She was the person everyone would call when they needed help with their animals. She deeply believed in mercy, and it was her goal not to let anyone suffer if she was able to help.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Burns, and her son, Damon Corey Burns. She is survived by her children, Don Burns and Denice Paxton, her 3 grandchildren, Daniel, Steven and Allyssa, and her 5 grandchildren.