Virginia A. “Ginger” (Gardella) Burke passed away unexpectedly on August 28. She was the wife of the late Thomas F. Burke, Jr., to whom she was married for 58 years.
Born in Fall River on January 21, 1936 as one of 12 children of the late Stephen and Hannah Gardella. Ginger was pre-deceased by her siblings Frank, Steve, Chuck, Gert, John, Billy, Paul, Bob and Donald. She is survived by her sister Angela Tripp and brother Joe, her 6 children Tom, Steve, Sue, Paul, Kathleen and Jay, and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Ginger was a longtime communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church, where she founded and served as first president of the Ladies’ Guild, and volunteered at weekly bingo nights and numerous other church activities.
She graduated from BMC Durfee High School in 1953, where she was a cheerleader and served as Fall River’s Mayor for a Day. In 1957 she graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.S. degree in Home Economics Education. She taught in the Melrose, Somerset and Dartmouth school systems. She also took great pride in teaching in the Pregnant and Parenting Teens program at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School in the 1980’s, a revolutionary program at the time which provided much needed assistance and respect to pregnant teens.
Ginger was an avid supporter of her children’s and grandchildren’s many activities, and enjoyed family vacations, Baker’s Beach, tennis, skiing, reading and water aerobics. Recently, Ginger enjoyed spending her winters with Tom in Siesta Key, Florida. She also cherished her weekly quilting group with her close friends.
Her Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday September 6th at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road in North Dartmouth, with burial to follow in South Dartmouth Cemetery. Visiting hours are omitted.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that consideration be given to supporting the impactful work of the Department of Neurosurgery at Boston Children’s Hospital, in memory of Virginia. Contributions can be made in Virginia’s name either online at www.bostonchildrens.org/givenow or by mail to the Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215-5301.