Mary Alice Burke dies at 88
Mary Alice Burke (nee Murphy) of West Windsor passed away on Nov. 21. She was 88.
Mary was the youngest child of Frederick J. Murphy and Mary (Ewing) Murphy and grew up in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Mary graduated from Girls’ Latin in 1955 and Emmanuel College in 1959, majoring in English. She earned a master’s degree in library science from Simmons College.
Mary met her husband Bill at the Boston Public Library as teenagers, where they both worked. They married in 1960 and settled in West Windsor, New Jersey, in 1967 and never left. Mary worked as a substitute teacher and librarian in the local schools for a period of time and ultimately became an underwriter at NJM Insurance, where she worked for 30 years, retiring in 2010.
Mary will be remembered for her unwavering commitment to family and friends and her wonderful sense of humor.
Mary (Coco) was close to all her children and grandchildren, regularly hosting family dinners coupled with seasonal traditions that the grandchildren would get very excited about. She and Bill were regulars at soccer and football games, baseball and basketball games, dance recitals and equestrian events. She loved reading, puzzles and going to the movies. Mary and Bill traveled extensively during retirement with visits to national parks, as well as Florida, Canada, Europe and Africa. One of their last trips was a cruise through the Panama Canal.
Mary is survived by her children Bill (Phyllis), Kathleen (Bruno), Theresa and Michael (Mariana), grandchildren Christine Seibert (Bob), Kevin Burke (Anna), Sean Burke (Kellie), Grace Mastropasqua, Sheila Mastropasqua, Peter Mastropasqua, Alex Jankowski (Sarah), Austin Jankowski, Sophia Burke, Thomas Burke, Lauren Burke and five great-grandchildren; her brother Rev. Monsignor Frederick J. Murphy of Boston, Massachusetts, sisters-in-law Mary Pierce of Cumberland, Rhode Island, Margaret Lee and husband Christopher of Holliston, Massachusetts, Frances Burke of Naples, Florida, and Marie Burke of Billerica, Massachusetts, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mary was predeceased by her parents Frederick Murphy and Mary Ewing Murphy, husband William, brother Dr. John Murphy, sister-in-law Mary Ann Murphy, brothers-in-law Richard and Edmund Burke and nephew Richard Burke.
Visitation will be held Monday, Dec. 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ 08542. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 10:30 a.m. at St. David the King Church, 1 Village Road, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Mary’s name to the Joslin Clinic, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215, or Emmanuel College, 400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115.
