Marylee (Hughes) Burke, 59, of Rochester died March 16, 2019 peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a long illness.
She was the beloved wife of CDR Stephen V. Burke, USN (Ret).
Born in Everett, MA, daughter of Anita P. (Bigley) Hughes of Wakefield, MA and the late Joseph W. Hughes, she was raised in Lynn graduating from St. Mary's High School. She lived in San Diego, CA and Springfield, VA while her husband served in the U.S. Navy before moving to Rochester, MA to raise their family in 2004.
She was formerly employed as assistant personnel director for the City of Lynn and was later an administrative assistant at Tabor Academy.
Marylee always showed love and care to everybody she ever knew or met. A dedicated member of her family and the local community, her positive personality and comforting presence was contagious to everybody around her. She loved singing to begin her mornings and loved listening to her favorite songs of the 60s, 70s, and 80s on Oldies 103.3 radio. Her natural ability to bring a smile to anyone’s face was admirable and reflective of her caring soul. Her loving presence will be sorely missed.
Survivors include her husband; her mother; a son, Stephen J. Burke of Rochester; a daughter, Erin P. Burke of Rochester; a sister, JoAnn Gallant and her husband Paul of North Reading, MA; 2 brothers, Paul Hughes and his wife Lisa of Rochester and Joseph Hughes, Jr. of Lynn; her lifelong friend, Mary Calnan of Lynnfield, MA; and numerous nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 22nd at 11 AM in St. Anthony's Church. Visiting hours Thursday March 21st from 3-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. Private burial will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery at a later date. We wish to acknowledge the wonderful team at Mass General Hospital, including Dr. Aditya Bardia, and to support advances in metastatic breast cancer research. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Marylee may be made online at www.giving.massgeneral.org (note “in memory of Marylee Burke” in the tribute section) or via check to MGH (note “in memory of Marylee Burke” in the memo line). Checks may be sent to MGH Development Office, Attn: Megan Daniels, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114.