Mary Louise Burke

Mary Louise Burke, 92, of Carbondale, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family, and entered the home of our Lord on Friday, April 25th. Mary Lou, the matriarch of our family, is now reunited with her loving husband, John G. “Mickey” Burke, who died March 29, 2010.

Born in Carbondale, daughter of the late Harold J. and Lydia A. Kirkwood Farrell, she was a devout member of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Carbondale, who was deeply committed to her faith and family.  She was a graduate of Saint Rose High School, Carbondale. Earlier in her career, she was employed by the Carbondale Review Newspaper, but she left that position to focus on raising her family. Before her retirement, she worked as a teller at PNC Bank in Carbondale, having previously held positions at First Eastern Bank and Liberty Bank. However, the role she cherished most was that of wife, mother, grandmother, and recent great grandmother. She was also an avid Duke Blue Devils fan, a trait she shared with her granddaughter Olivia.

Surviving is her loving, caring daughter, and primary caretaker, Mary Elizabeth Burke; three sons: Thomas Burke; Gerald Burke and wife Michele; James Burke and wife Melissa, all of Carbondale; four grandchildren: Melanie, Jared, and Colin Burke, Carbondale; Dr. Olivia and husband Landon Gabriel; a great grandson: Reid James Gabriel, New Haven, CT; a sister-in-law: Rosemarie Burke Kennedy, Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by three brothers: Robert, Joseph, and John Farrell.

The funeral will be Thursday, May 1st from the Brennan & Brennan Funeral Home, Inc., 55 Lincoln Avenue, Carbondale, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in Saint Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale.  Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill.  Friends may call Wednesday, from 4 to 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, 6 N. Church St., Carbondale, PA 18407 or St. Joseph’s Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509.

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