Richard E. Burke, 72, of Lakeville died January 17, 2005 at home after a long illness.
He was the husband of Patricia R. (Mahoney) Burke with whom he shared 45 years of marriage.
Born in New Bedford, son of the late W. Kenneth and Veronica (Corey) Burke, he lived in New Bedford most of his life before moving to Lakeville in 1973.
Mr. Burke was a communicant of Sts. Martha and Mary Church in Lakeville and served as an altar boy at St. Lawrence Church in his youth.
He was formerly employed by the New Bedford School Department for 30 years first as an English teacher at Keith Junior High School and later in the Special Needs Department.
Mr. Burke served in the US Army for two years and later in the Army Reserves.
He was a graduate of Holy Family High School, Providence College, and received his Masters Degree from Bridgewater State College.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Richard Burke, Jr., and his wife Patricia, of Dartmouth and Matthew Burke of Lakeville; a daughter, Margaret Mary Mastrofrancesco, and her husband Joseph, of New Bedford; a brother, W. Kenneth Burke of Dartmouth; three sisters, Mary Burke and Barbara Gillis, both of Needham and Kathleen Mello of Milford; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Edward Burke.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford Friday, January 21st at 8:30 AM. Funeral Mass at Sts. Martha and Mary Church, Lakeville at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Visiting hours Thursday, January 20th from 4-7 PM.
Interment St. Mary's Cemetery.