Joel Edward Burns passed away unexpectedly from a fall in his home in Merrimack, New Hampshire on March 30, 2022.

Joel was born on July 17, 1972, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Connecticut. He grew up in Litchfield, Connecticut. He attended Litchfield Center School, Bantam School, Litchfield Middle School and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1990.

Following high school, Joel attended Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  In 1994, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. It was at Catholic University where Joel met and eventually married Emily Fasnacht. Shortly after getting married, they moved to New Hampshire to follow their careers. On August 4, 2003, Joel and Emily had a son, Ethan Burns, who is attending Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Joel began his own business in New Hampshire, called Northern Summits, a successful marketing site for creating and maintaining websites for nonprofit agencies throughout the country.

Joel was an outdoor enthusiast, who loved to hike and climb in the White Mountains. He climbed the 48 4000-Footers, described in the Appalachian Mountain Guidebook. In addition, he became a skilled rock and ice climber throughout the northern peaks of the White Mountains. Joel also had a strong love of music and was an exceptional musician.

Joel was a volunteer at the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Pantry and for brief time, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the agency.

Joel was a very generous and wonderful man, who was greatly loved by his family and many friends of Merrimack, New Hampshire and Litchfield, Connecticut. Joel's friends and family have reminisced about his witty sense of humor, his commitment to helping others and his deep long-lasting friendships. He will be sorely missed by all of us.

Joel was pre-deceased by his mother, Eileen Ruth Burns (June 14, 2018). He is survived by his father, Edward Burns, his son, Ethan Burns, his former wife, Emily Burns, his siblings and their spouses, Alice Van Ormer, Frank and Sue Van Ormer and John and Lee Van Ormer, along with his many nieces, nephews, Aunts and Uncles and cousins.

Donations may be made to the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter in Nashua, New Hampshire (nsks.org).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 10:30am at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 49 South Street, Litchfield. Burial will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery, Litchfield. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield, CT 06759.

Kindly visit www.thurstonrowefuneralhome.com to send the family an online condolence.