Edward W. Burke

Edward W. Burke, 77, of LakeRidge Community in Toms River, NJ, left this life peacefully on May 3, 2017 after remaining in a stroke coma for 10 days. He was born in Queens, New York to Edward Joseph and Paula, a Polish immigrant.

In 1961, Edward was married to the love of his life, Concetta (nee) Pesce at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Astoria, NY and later lived in Saddle Brook, NJ where they lived until his retirement.

Edward was employed by OTB as an electrical engineer until he retired in October, 1997. During that time he was an active member of St. Philip’s the Apostle, Saddle Brook, NJ, where he chaired the church carnival. He was also President of Unico.

In 1966, Edward became paralyzed from an unfortunate accident and was told by doctors that he would never walk again. He defied those odds but then suffered a massive heart attack in 1983. He was the first recipient of a metal stent at Hackensack Hospital, NJ, and overcame ongoing heart disease with the aid of 4 additional stents. During his lifetime, Edward was afflicted with three life threatening cases of pneumonia. If this wasn’t enough, Edward fought Stage3B non-hodgkins lymphoma, and once again defied medical odds as a 15 year cancer survivor.

Edward thrived actively in his retirement at the LakeRidge Community, boasting a “hole-in-one” in his golf days, bowling at the top of his league, sharp shooting accolades in billiards, participating in the men’s club and card nights. All this, while passionately appreciating a marriage of 55 years to his surviving wife, Concetta. He leaves his three loving daughters, Lisa Ann and David Stross, Renee’ Maria and Marilyn, and Yvonne Marie and Stephen Hendricks. He was thankful for his three grandchildren Michael, Gina and Joseph. He is also survived by his sisters, sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws and cousins. His life was enriched by over 140 nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and great great nieces and great great nephews. Edward loved his friends.

He loved all of the gifts that nature gives to us and always reminded us to stop, look and listen to what nature teaches us.

A celebration of his life will be on Sunday, May 7 from 9 – 11 am at D’Elia Funeral Home in Lakewood, NJ. A mass will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Deborah, Seaside Chapter, PO Box 402, Lavallette, NJ, 08735 or to The American Cancer Society.