Joan Sammo Burke, 85, of Vero Beach, passed away on April 3, 2014.
Burke and her husband Bill were born in Jersey City, N.J, and lived in many cosmopolitan areas from Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston and London before retiring to their beloved Vero Beach.
She graduated from Mount St. Vincent with a B.S.degree in Nursing, which often came in handy raising 10 children. She married the love of her life Bill Burke, in 1951. The extended family includes 24 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She and her husband taught Cana classes in the 1960s and were actively involved in the Second Ecumenical Council. They were fortunate enough to circumnavigate the globe, traveling on every major river in the world, dining in all the capitals and visiting every continent.
Burke had a deep appreciation for the arts and volunteered for 17 years in the role of Eleventh Hour Support at Vero’s Hospice, and serendipitously ended up in their caring hands.
Visitation will be held Saturday, April 5 at Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach from 5 to 8 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Sunday, April 6 at 2:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church
Friends are invited to continue the celebration of Burke’s life following mass at Caledon Shores where a reception will be held.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joan’s name to the Visiting Nurse Association 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or the Alzheimer’s Association 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, http:/www.alz.org.