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Burke, Catherine F. (Doherty)
, age 87, better known as Kate or Kay, died at home on Wednesday morning, December 23, 2009, surrounded by her five children.
She was born in Everett,on January 4, 1922 to George and Ellen (Gallagher) Doherty. She was one of 11 children and is survived by her sister Cecilia O'Connor of Norwood, who was by her side the entire day before she died. Her siblings were; Mary McLaughlin, Joseph Doherty, Roseann Doherty,George Doherty, Betty Lewis, James Doherty, John Doherty, Cecilia O'Connor, Sister Rose Doherty and Andrew Doherty.
When she was six, her father died in the disastrous 1928 Beacon Oil explosion. Her mother died of pneumonia one year later leaving 9 children still at home. Her oldest sister Mary, then 19, went to Court to fight to keep them all together. With the help of their aunt and uncle they were able to remain together living in two floors of a triple-decker on Woodlawn Street in Forest Hills. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Jamaica Plain and took a job as a comptometer at Cambridge Rubber where she met her lifelong friend Marge (Duffy) Connors. When she had her own family, they spent vacations on the Cape with Marge and Jack in Eastham, spending night and day at Campground and Coast Guard Beaches.
She met her husband, Bill "Bud" or "Bucko" Burke on Woodlawn Street and upon his return from WWII, were married on May 4, 1946. They moved to Millis in 1955 and lived next door to another lifetime friend, Mary Henderson. She and Mary shared too many cups of tea to count. They also played Pitch with the same group of friends for over 40 years. Her card group was so important to her.
She worked for many years at St. Thomas Rectory after her children were all in school. She is survived by Bill, Roseann Adams, Jim, Fran and Kate (Kitty), 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. One of her greatest loves was to go and watch one of her grandchildren at whatever sport they were playing. She froze on the soccer field and sweated it out in the swimming pool whenever she could.
Kate also had a love of going to the casinos. She never won any money but that didn't matter, she would jump at any offer to go, especially when her grandchildren would take her.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, 82 Exchange Street, Millis, on Monday, Dec. 28th at 1:00p.m. Visiting hours will be at the Roberts-Mitchell Funeral Home, 15 Miller Street, Medfield, Sunday 3 – 6p.m.
The family asks that any donations in lieu of flowers be made in her name to her life long association with the Maryknoll Sisters Box 307, Maryknoll, NY 10545 (her sister Rose was a Maryknoll nun) or to the Natick VNA, 209 W. Central Street, Natick, MA 01760 who took such good care of her.
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| Guest Book: |
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| Maureen Clancy Demers |
(mhsweater@aol.com): |
| Sorry to hear.She was sweet it was really nice for me to get to know her again. love to all, Maureen and my mom. |
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| Christine and Neil Henderson and family |
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| Please know that are thoughts are with you all at this time of loss. It is unfortunate that we don't reflect on the kindness of a person until they are gone. With that, we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for sharing you mom with all of us over the years. It made a difference in our lives as well. She truly was a wonderful mother, wife and friend. With deepest sympathy. |
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| Joe, Marcia & Marjorie Connors and Maria Alway |
(jomiconnors@gmail.com): |
| Kate was a wonderful, friend, "aunt" and companion for us through many of life's adventures. We will miss her very much. Although they are no longer with us, she and Bucko will remain in our thoughts, alive in our memories. |
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| Joan & Bill Greener |
(billjoan@verizon.net): |
| Fran, Cara, Cate and family. Our heartfelt sympathy is with you all at this time. We will be praying for all of you. God Bless and love to all. |
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| Millie & Larry Wilcox |
(milliewilcox@gmail.com): |
Our thoughts will be with you all today and tomorrow. She was lucky to have had such a loving and close knit family and a life rich with grand and great grandchildren.
Peace and love |
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| Karen and Peter Burk |
(Karen@burk.com): |
Roseann and family, Your Mom was a great lady whose love and strength will always be with you. I am so glad I knew her.
Love and prayers are with you all. |
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| Ashley Talabach |
(ashleytalabach@yahoo.com): |
| My thoughts and prayers go out to your family. Roseann, I am very sorry for your loss. Your mother was a doll. I remember visiting her with my mom when I was little. |
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| Helen M. Hickey |
(flightsong@juno.com): |
| I will always remember Kay as a friend and good companion when we both worked at the St. Thomas rectory. |
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| kathleen Byrne |
(kathybyr15@hotmail.com): |
| Thank you Kay and Bill Burke for a wonderful childhood. If you hadn't lived next door for all those years and raised those five great kids, my parents and my siblings lives would not have been the same. Thanks for the memories! |
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| John & Jean Burke |
(Hungnamdec@aol.com): |
Dear Bill, Rose, Jim, Fran and Kitty. A terrible blow for all us Burke's. Kate was a gentle blessing in all of our lives.Jean and I lift all of you up in prayer.God Rest Her Soul.
Love,
John & Jean
Phi1:3 |
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| Henry springham and helen |
(Tisherself@Yahoo.com): |
To the family: Your mother will be missed
by Helen & myself, Along with "Bucko" we
had some wonderful visits with them when they visited. My "Military Service" and
travels prevented seeing them and the
family more often. God Bless you all. |
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| Henry springham and Helen |
(tisherself80@yahoo.com): |
| sorry to hear of the death of your mother |
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| Chris Sayer (Henderson) |
(christinasayer@maine.rr.com): |
| So sorry about your Mom. It was great growing up next to the Burkes! You were my "second family." Glad to have know you all. |
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| Veronica Lyons |
(veronical@aol.com): |
| CYO ski trips, cards at the Wheatleys and bingo nights... I will always remember Kay. We were both at the Bubbling Brook for lunch one day and she recognized me right off whille it took me a few minutes. She and many others from her circle of friends contributed to my happy childhood. |
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