Chrissy Burns

Christine "Chrissy" Burns, a successful local comedian who worked her battles with a number of health issues into her act, died suddenly on Friday in Grand Rapids. She was 46.

A native of Cleveland, Burns graduated from Lincoln High School in 1982 and attended Washtenaw Community College. From her Ypsilanti home base, she was a successful stand-up comedian, working regularly in Michigan and across the country as well.

Her comedy home, though, was the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, where she started with an open-mic night and worked up to headliner status. A four-time cancer survivor who also battled lupus, Burns used her health issues to create comedy and explore the "healing power of laughter."

In a 2004 interview with The Ann Arbor News, Burns explained her approach: "My act is not depressing when I start talking about the cancer. It's something anyone could relate to who's been in the hospital or who's been sick... just some of the funny things that happened during a very unfunny time."

Other subjects addressed in her act included dieting, dating and her family.

The Showcase's Roger Feeny said this morning, "We at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase were shocked and saddened by the news of Chrissy's death. She has been a regular performer at the club for years and we marveled at her tenacity to perform through all her illnesses. This is a loss for the entire comedy community and beyond. May she rest in peace in the arms of our Lord."

Burns was a member of the Ypsilanti Players, St. Joseph Catholic Church of Whittaker and St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor.

A funeral mass is scheduled for 11 am Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 9425 Whittaker Road, Whittaker. Cremation will follow. Contributions in her memory may be made to either St. Joseph Youth Club or St. Luke’s Youth Club. Envelopes are available at Stark Funeral Service, 101 S. Washington St. in Ypsilanti, where visitation will be 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. today with a prayer service at 7 pm. There will also be visitation at the church from 10 a.m. until time of mass Tuesday. A guest book is online at www.starkfuneral.com.