Elizabeth Condren-Burke (Sutherland)

Elizabeth (Sutherland) Condren-Burke, 91, passed away quietly Sunday (March 25, 2012) at the Atria Assisted living facility in Rocky Hill. Born in Portage, Maine on March 11, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Bertrand Sutherland and Violet Bernard Sutherland. After graduating from high school in Presque Isle, ME, she moved to Connecticut, working for Southern New England Telephone Co. and Pratt and Whitney. A longtime resident of Connecticut, she lived in East Hartford, Portland, Southington, and New Britain. While living in Southington she was employed by Riccio's clothing store and volunteered at Bradley Memorial Hospital. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Southington. She was married for 37 years to James Joseph Condren until his passing in 1984. She remarried in 1993 to Jack Burke of New Britain. She and Jack spent several winters in Mt. Dora, FL until moving to The Villages, FL in 1996 where they enjoyed an active lifestyle until December 2010. She liked traveling, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchild. In Florida, she spent her time doing volunteer work, playing cards, square dancing, playing bocce and golfing. Besides her parents and her first husband James J. Condren, Elizabeth was predeceased by four brothers, Averill, Bertrand, Charles and John Sutherland; a sister, Olive Sutherland and half sister, Eunice Davenport. She is survived by her husband, Jack Burke; sister, Molly Carley and her husband Hank of Canaan; Averill's wife, Jean of Manchester and Bertrand's wife, Lyda of Rockville. She is also survived by her four children, Jim Condren and wife Ellen Robinson of Hartford, Bert Condren of Wallingford, John Condren and wife Kim of Southington, and Tom Condren and wife Suzan of New Britain; nine adored grandchildren and one cherished great-grandchild, Nina Rivera and husband Gilbert, and their son Xavier of Wethersfield, Max and Joe Condren of Hartford, Courtney Condren of Meriden, Kelsey Condren of Wallingford, and Jim, Erin, Jake and Meghan Condren of Southington.

Funeral service will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield with the Reverend George Harris officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Portland. Family and friends may call on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations in Elizabeth's memory can be made to the Lupus Foundation of America-CT Chapter (CTLFA), 270 Farmington Ave., Suite 218, Farmington, CT 06032. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.