Obituary of Jeannette Burke

Born: Jeannette Burke on October 4, 1918 in Utica, NY. Died: October 2, 2016 in the St. Francis Community of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY. Daughter of John and Mary (Gaschwind) Burke of Rochester, NY. She was received into the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse on August 15, 1936 and professed her final religious vows on August 16, 1943. For more than 80 years, Sister Jeannette was devoted to the life and mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. She attended grade school at Holy Rosary and St. Margaret Mary, both in Rochester, NY, and attended high school at St. Elizabeth Academy in Allegany, NY, graduating in 1943. She attended Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, for a year and earned her Bachelor's in Education from St. Elizabeth Teacher's College (now a part of St. Bonaventure University) in 1962. Sister Jeannette ministered in education for most of her life. She was a teacher at St. Clare School in Pittsburgh, PA, St. Mary in Rome, NY, Holy Cross in the Bronx, NY, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Buffalo, NY, St. Francis in New Milford, CT, Assumption in Wood-Ridge, NJ, Christ the King in Snyder, NY, St. Anthony in New York City, St. Paul in St. Petersburg, FL, Corpus Christi in Miami, and St. Joseph in Lakeland, FL. In 1978, she took on the responsibility of Assistant Secretary in the Pastoral Care Department at St. Francis in Miami Beach, FL, and in 1979 she assumed a position in the Business Office at St. Mary in West Palm Beach, FL. From 1981 to 1988, Sr. Jeannette ministered at the St. Francis Residence in Tampa, FL, serving in a variety of positions, including driver, and clerk in the Medical Records Department. Sister retired in 1995, and in 2010 she was welcomed home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany, NY. Sister Jeannette is predeceased by her parents; a brother; and three sisters. She is survived by a sister, Mary Gross, and many nieces and nephews. A Wake Service is scheduled in the Chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY, at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY. The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, NY. Condolences may be sent to the family by clicking the button above.