ROXBURY- It is with heavy hearts that the family of Ms. Octavia Nicole “Nikki” Burrus, age 41, says farewell for now to our beloved daughter, sister, aunt and friend who passed away at the Westchester Medical Center on Thursday, September 10, 2026, surrounded by the love and care of her family.

Octavia was born on May 2, 1985, in Waterbury, Connecticut, the beloved daughter of Gregory Burrus Sr., and Betty Jean (White) Burrus. She was a life-long resident of Roxbury, CT, and an alumnus of Shepaug Valley High School, Naugatuck Valley Community College, and Southern Connecticut State University. She was passionate about Community Health and Voiceovers, often seeking to combine the two to educate the masses on what they needed to know. She wanted a healthier world and for people to understand how to achieve it. She loved her parents deeply and wanted to be the best daughter she could. Her mother, Betty, was her best friend and greatest source of earthly strength. She cared for the family through her love of cooking. She was boundlessly patient and kind to those with special needs who resided in the same home. She loved her brother and wanted only the brightest for him in the future. She has left family, friends, and countless little white dogs to mourn her loss.

Octavia was love. She greeted everyone with a big, tight hug. She could hardly go for an outing without adding a Facebook friend or phone number. Her compassion and kindness were boundless. To the barking dog, she would open herself to understand what made him yowl. Borrowing the old phrase, the world is dimmer without her. Octavia was a faithful servant of Jehovah, having been baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the age of fourteen. As one of Jehovah’s faithful Witnesses, she believed and looked forward to the time when dead loved ones will be resurrected to life on earth (John 5:28) and sickness and death will be done away with as the Bible promises (Revelation 21:4). And now she will remain in God’s memory until he awakens her. She will be greatly missed until that time arrives.

Besides her loving parents, Betty and Gregory, she is also survived by her brother, Gregory Burrus Jr. (Anneliz), and nephew, Carter Burrus; her aunts, Rebecca Galloway, Rhonda (Albert) Petty, Pamela Burrus, Dorothy Trotman, Sharon White, and Selena Roberts; and her uncle, John Burrus. She also leaves behind many cousins and her two closest friends, Cat Edwards and Trish Brabant, and her favorite cousin, Rose Langston-Moss. The family would especially like to thank the medical staff at Westchester Medical Center for their care and support.

A Celebration of Life for Ms. Burrus will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 8 Carmel Hill Road Woodbury CT 06798. Burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family. Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 1987 East Main St, Waterbury, CT. has been honored to assist the Burrus family during their time of loss.In this time of reflection, the family welcomes all who knew and loved Nikki to share messages of condolence, comfort, and cherished memories. Please visit the funeral home's tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to connect with the family or honor their loved one’s memory with floral arrangements and other gifts of condolence.