Obituary of Eleanor M. Burke

CANTON –Funeral services for 63 year old Eleanor M. Burke, of 911 Sykes Road, Canton ; will be held Saturday 10AM at St. John’s The Baptist Church in Madrid with Rev. Msgr. Robert Lawler, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Norwood. Friends may call at the Buck Funeral Home in Norwood, Friday from 2-4 and 7-9. Mrs. Burke died Thursday at the Canton Potsdam Hospital. Surviving are her husband John of Canton and her loving children; Ronald and Tracey Burke , Canton; Eric and Michelle Burke, Canton; Mark and Erika Burke, Brossard, Quebec; and Angela Burke of Ogdensburg. She is also survived by 8 Grandchildren and three brothers; Charles and Gail Colbert, Norwood; Tom and Patsy Colbert, Norfolk, Nebraska; Sam Colbert and Companion Sharon Yousey, Norwood; one sister, Sarah and Herb Boyce, Macedon, NY; and nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by a close cousin Douglas Colbert, Killed in Action in Vietnam. Born in Potsdam on August 28, 1946, daughter of Albert and Sadie Pelo Colbert; she married John H. Burke on December 14, 1968 at St. Andrews Church in Norwood. Eleanor was a graduate of Norwood-Norfolk Central School. After graduation, she studied at the Strong Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Rochester. After becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse, Eleanor worked at the E.J. Noble Hospital in Canton, Cedars Nursing Home in Ogdensburg, and Moongate Nursing Home in Canton. Eleanor then devoted herself to being a full time mother. As her children were growing up, she spent many hours enjoying her large garden as she worked alongside her children. Eleanor enjoyed traveling, shopping, and casinos. In 1988, Eleanor ventured to fulfill her dream of attending college to study to be a registered nurse. While a college student, Eleanor returned to work at the United Helpers Canton Nursing Home. She continued to work at United Helpers, now Maplewood, until her death. In 1992, Eleanor graduated from SUNY Canton and became a registered nurse. During her many years at United Helpers, Eleanor made close friendships. She took great pride in her work with all the residents that she considered family. She was a caring professional who lived each day with compassion. She was a communicant of St. John’s Baptist Church in Madrid. Memorial donations may be made to the Eleanor Burke Nursing Scholarship Fund. Online condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.bcukfuneralhome.com . The Buck Funeral Home in Norwood is serving the family of Eleanor Burke.