Gail Patricia Burke's Obituary
Gail (Kelleher) Burke passed away peacefully at the age of 72 years young, in her home surrounded by her husband and children on February 27, 2024.
She leaves behind her husband Lonnie Burke of Tucson, Arizona, and her three children: Ginny (Burke) Crosse, Lawrence Burke, and Molly Burke. Gail is also fondly remembered by her sister Robin Stamm, Lisa Farnham, brothers Robert Kelleher and Sean Kelleher, and her granddaughter Sophie Maker. She is preceded by her parents Robert and Dorothy Kelleher, and brother Brian Kelleher.
Gail was born in Holden, MA on August 23, ,1951. The family moved to San Francisco Bay Area when she was a child where she later graduated from Castro Valley High School. She worked as an airline stewardess for Trans World Airlines and flew internationally before graduating with her associate degree in nursing from Golden West College in Huntington Beach. She later graduated with her BSN followed by her MBA from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA. She worked as a registered nurse for the Oakland Raiders in the 70’s as well as an RN at Hoag hospital in Newport Beach, California where two of her three children were born. She also worked various nursing jobs while raising her children in Ohio, New “Joisey”, and Massachusetts. Gail was a nurse for over 35 years and enjoyed it immensely. Her time spent working with her “Fallon family” at Fallon Clinic Urgent Care gave her the most enjoyment. She would say that her patients helped her more than she helped them. When asked what her greatest accomplishment in life was, she would say without reservation that raising her children was the hardest and most rewarding work she had ever done. Gail will be most remembered b those who knew and loved her for her vibrant spirit, quirky humor, and her love for helping others.
A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church in Paxton, Ma on Saturday June 1, 2024, at 10:00 am. All who have been touched in some way, shape, or form by our mother are invited to come share in her memory.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to www.lbda.org for research against the disease she fought.
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