Shirley Burke, 88, of East Hampton died Sunday, April 17, 2022, at Marlborough Healthcare.
Shirley was born April 10, 1934, in Zanesville, Ohio. It was not long for her to get the itch of travel. She indulged that interest in her position with American Airlines as a Flight Attendant (AKA stewardess). There she met lifelong friends and eventually her husband at a New York City party. Patrick Burke Sr. took her on quite a lifelong journey. They settled down in Westport, Conn. and eventually to Stowe, Vt. to raise their kids, Patrick and Anne Marie and operate a tree farm.
Shirley displayed amazing strength after her husband passed away. At the time her son was in college and her daughter was in the final years of high school. Life was more of a scramble as the family left Stowe for a return to Connecticut. She was successful at stabilizing the family as they handled the challenges of life without her husband and father to the children. Her calm demeanor set the tone for how to handle such crisis. Her steady hand allowed both children to continue to grow and attend college, which was a gift as there had been such an enormous void left by the passing of her husband.
Shirley loved dogs and even was a breeder for pure bred Labrador Retrievers. This passion for dogs was passed down to her children. Shirley also worked for many years as a hostess at the Inn at Mystic. She was able to hold this job for several years while she was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, along with the support of a boss who was very understanding. She was known as a great asset to the Inn, as her affable personality was well suited for her service.
Eventually she engaged in a long and difficult battle with Alzheimer’s. Although she lived with this for a long time the toll of the disease finally proved too much as she departed on Easter Sunday
Shirley is survived by her son Patrick J. Burke Jr. (wife Kelly Burke) from East Hampton; and her daughter Anne Marie Ruggles from New Hampshire. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Donovan and Rohnan Burke, Katherine, Hiler, Logan, Ella, and Abigail Ruggles.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 25, at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic. Burial follows at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic. Friends are welcome.
The Burke family extends their sincere gratitude to the caring nurses and aides at Marlborough Health and Rehabilitation Center who cared for Shirley for so long. They truly are an amazing and caring group of people who always put Shirley’s needs first and was a blessing to the family.
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