Helen D. Burke

Helen D. Burke, nee Davis, age 94; beloved wife of the late James E.; devoted mother of Patricia (Don) Herminghouse, Kathleen (Jon) Edwards, Mary Sue Burke and James (Melody) Burke; loving grandmother of Justin and Shauna Herminghouse and Wendy, David and Sara Edwards; dear sister of the late Catherine “Kate” Stehno and the late William and Robert A. Davis. In lieu of flowers donations on Helen's behalf would be appreciated to Sacred Heart Monasty Chapel, 1910 Maple Ave., Lisle, IL 60532; The Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation, Inc., 1530 Greenview Dr. SW, Suite 210, Rochester, MN 55902, www.rls.org; or St. Eulalia Parish, 1851 South 9th Avenue Maywood, IL 60153.

Helen was born in Chicago to Lillian and Wilfred Davis. The family moved to Forest Park where Helen attended St. Bernardine Elementary School and Proviso East High School. Helen was the youngest of four children: one sister, Kay and two brothers, Bill and Bob.

Helen met her future husband, Jim, at Proviso East High School. While walking behind her in study hall one day, Jim gently tapped Helen on the head with a book. That’s when Helen said, “That’s the man I’m going to marry!” And so it was.

Helen and Jim were married at St. Bernardine Church in 1939. They lived in Forest Park and Berwyn for several years until buying their first house in Maywood where they raised their family for the next 25 years. Helen and Jim had four children, Pat (married to Don), with children, Justin and Shauna; Mary Sue; Kathy (married to Jon) with children Wendy, David and Sara; and son Jim (married to Melody). Two of Helen’s children live in the area and are able to visit her frequently. Helen was fortunate in that she could stay at home to be with and raise her children. It provided many opportunities for her to be involved in their day-to-day lives and to volunteer for projects in their schools.

Helen has always enjoyed cooking and baking. She is a fan of traditional music and seeing Broadway musicals like the Sound of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Man of LaMancha. Helen enjoys the simple things in life such as dining out with family and friends the most. Volunteering was one thing that Helen liked to do, and she volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital for several years.

Helen loved to travel, especially on cruises where her favorite destination was Alaska. Perhaps her most memorable cruise was when Helen sailed to England to see where her father was born and raised. Her other hobbies included ceramics, playing cards – especially poker – and occasionally playing a slot machine or two. She also enjoys sewing and was an avid walker.