Lauretta M. Burke - 95
Olympia Fields, IL
Lauretta Burke passed away peacefully on February 11, 2021. She was born on February 15, 1925 to Margaret (nee Kelly) and James O’Neill. She is survived by her children: Meg (Bob) Wagoner, Ed (Beverley) Burke, Sue (late Greg Pease) and Kate (Tony) Bucki. Her grandchildren are Mike (Molly), Jeff (Stephanie) Wagoner, Becky (Al) Coulson, Aaron (Lisa Briatta), Marilyn (Andy) Campbell, Kristen and Mark Shelburg, and Stephanie and Jonathan Bucki. Her great grandchildren are Allison and Jake Coulson; Natalie and Luke Campbell; Margot, Burke, and Alice Wagoner; Violet Burke; and her
sister Peggy (late Jack) Gibbons.
Lauretta grew up in Gage Park and was valedictorian of her senior class at Gage Park High school. She attended Chicago Teachers College while working as a supervisor for AT&T.
She married Edward Burke in 1948. They moved to Park Forest and then Olympia Fields where they resided for 68 years. Lauretta was the bookkeeper for her husband”s business, Burke's Service Center. She also worked for the Olympia Fields Post Office until retirement.
Lauretta was a savvy bridge player, playing three to four times a week until Covid. Everyone wanted her as her partner. She was an avid reader and kept track of everyone's lives.
Lauretta is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 60 years, and siblings, Noreen (James) Kelly, James (Sophie) O’Neill, Jack (Lorraine) O’Neill, Geraldine (John) McCann and Ted (Julie) O’Neill.
Funeral Mass will be held Thursday February 18, 2021 11:00 am at Infant Jesus of Prague, 1131 Douglas Avenue in Flossmoor where Lauretta was a longtime parishioner.
Interment is private. Due to the pandemic, masks must be worn in church, and the service will be live streamed. Information: 708-481-9230 a 11:00 AM.nd panozzobros.com.
Due to the pandemic church attendance limitations, a live stream of the funeral mass will available on our facebook page Phillip Panozzo (Panozzo Bros. Funeral Home) at 11:00 AM.
Sally Westley
on 02/17/21
I was privileged to know Lauretta. for many years through the Olympia Fields Woman's Club and becoming good friends through bridge, book discussion and other activities. She was a fearsome bridge player but great fun whether as foe or partner. She will be greatly missed. This past year has been tough for everyone so I was glad I got to talk to her a few weeks ago. My favorite story about Lauretta was her voicing her impatience with her doctors following hip replacement. No one was going to treat her as an old lady.
My condolences to her family. She was the matriarch every family can be proud of and she spoke of you all with such love.
Jim and Mary Jane Metzger
on 02/18/21
Lauretta (Meg's mom) was proud to attend her grandsons' weddings where we met her. We have known Bob and Meg for a long time and caught a glimpse of how special Lauretta was to her delightful family. We are privileged to have interacted with her and wish her family our thoughts and prayers in this very difficult time. Sadly, Jim and Mary Jane Metzger. Suffolk, Virginia