ESSEX: Mildred C. “Connie” (Hamilton) Burke, 87, died Friday evening, October 12, 2012 at the Brigham Manor Rehabilitation Center, Newburyport following an extended illness. She was the wife of the late William Burke, who died in 1972.
Born in Gloucester on March 18, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Jeannette (Gerring) Veator and George Hamilton. She was a graduate of the Gloucester High School class of 1943.
Connie had worked at Mighty Mac Manufacturing on Emerson Avenue. She later was employed by Gorton’s of Gloucester for many years, having retired in 1994.
She and Bill enjoyed traveling to many destinations, including Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and France. A member of the Seafood Retirees and the Essex Senior Group, she had a large network of friends with whom she played cards and took many trips to locations in the United States and Canada. In later years, her greatest joy came from spending time with her great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sheila Burke-Sutton and Harry Sutton of Newburyport; her grandson, Augustus Means, III, husband of Sarah Carpenter; and granddaughter, Megan (Means), wife of Jeffrey Williams; two great-grandchildren, Madeline Means and Wm. Gordon Means, and their mother, Joy Strickland. She is also survived by her first cousins, Wesley, husband of the late Josephine Tucker, Carol Lee, wife of Martin Hanrahan, Robert “Jeff”, husband of the late Marilyn Jeffrey, Ronald, husband of Gail Gerring, Kathryn, wife of Steven Reis, Robert K. Gerring, Jr., Nancy, wife of Joseph Unis and their families. She was also predeceased by her daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Augustus Means, Jr.; and her stepfather, George Veator.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday evening in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Cape Ann Animal Aid, 4 Paws Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930.