Therese Burke

Therese Burke (nee Donegan), 80, of Pompano Beach, Florida passed peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, shortly after 12 noon. A Cork rebel, she was an award winning artist known for her art and landscape paintings of Ireland and Florida, Irish ceilidh and set dancing, and for the singing of Irish songs and country hits. Bartholomew C. Burke, 87, her husband survives her, as do her children Margaret(Harold) Visser, Christopher "Sean" Burke, Patrick (Jackie)Burke, Anne (the late Dennis)Kelly, and Thomas(Caryl Sortwell) Burke, her sisters Eileen Ryan and Bridie (Dennis)O'Sullivan and sisters-in-law, Wendy Donegan, Angela Donegan and Helen Donegan, twelve grandchildren--Bart, Theresa, Harold John, Richard, George, and Daniel (Visser); Clinton, Caitlin, and Angella (Burke); Paul and Mikael (Kelly); Violet (Sortwell), 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sister Margaret Walsh, brothers John Henry, Patrick "Paud", and Micheal, and her brothers-in-law, Jim Walsh and John Ryan. Therese was born to Margaret (Smith) and Patrick Thomas Donegan on March 22, 1937, raised in Inchafune, Dunmanway, County Cork, Ireland, immigrated to T...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

nto, Canada where she met Bart Burke, they married on December 1, 1956. The newlyweds then moved to Chicago, Illinois where they raised five children. More than a homemaker, she was a trailblazer of the era; obtaining her GED, attending Triton College, and graduating with a Biology degree from Northeastern Illinois University. For a few years she taught at Catholic schools, followed by a long career with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an investigator. Upon retirement, Therese and Bart travelled between Ballinacarriga, West Cork and Pompano Beach; places where she could often be seen, paintbrushes in hand at her easel, capturing the beauty she so admired on canvas. With her radiant smile she loved to share her paintings and artwork at fairs, festivals, and libraries. Therese, an avid gardener, loved to tend to flowers, sharing her knowledge with all who would listen. She was known to be part of the Irish set dancing and ceilidh clubs from Chicago to Ballinacarriga and was known to motivate people of all ages to get up on the dance floor; teaching them to sway with a waltz, hop to a jig, or spin to a reel. Her lifetime dance partner, Bart was never far from her side, always supporting her and making sure she was able to achieve her dreams. In the past few years, as her memory became more impacted, Bart took the lead in looking after her and carrying out her wishes. Surely, she will be missed by all who knew her. Donations may be made to an Alzheimer fund of your choice.