Barbara A. Burke Burdick, 88, of Mystic died Thursday, May 13, 2021 after a short illness. She is predeceased by her husband Rudolph D. Burdick Jr. who passed away in 2013.
Barbara was born in Williamsburg VA on March 16, 1933. The daughter of George A. and Mildred Hall Burke, she was the youngest of six children.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses and children. Catherine and Christopher Over of Newburgh, IN, Nancy and Earle Pearson of Mystic, CT, Sandra and Roland Sineiro of Groton, CT and David and Marcie Burdick of Ocala, FL. Barbara was blessed with nine Grandchildren and eleven Great-Grandchildren.
Her Grandson Earle S. Pearson predeceased her in 2015.
Barbara also had a special bond with her niece Margie Gookins who always showed great kindness towards her Aunt, especially in the later years.
Barbara held many jobs throughout her life. She did mill work, factory work, babysat for many local families, and transported special needs children.
Her most rewarding job was as a volunteer ambulance driver and EMT for B.F. Hoxie in Mystic. She fully committed herself to helping others and excelled in this service. She was one of the first female EMT’s in the area at the time.
Barbara and Rudy enjoyed concerts at Tanglewood and dinners at Eastern Point Beach along with antiquing and attending auctions. While her husband was a collector of early American lighting, Barbara’s passion was frogs! So much so that she became known as “The Frog Lady” to family and friends and among those who knew her in the antique circuit. There was a long running joke that when Barbara passed away her headstone would read FROG LADY CROAKS!
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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