Dorothy Ann "Dot" (Sullivan) Burke

Age 89, of Framingham recently of Uxbridge, MA, passed away peacefully in her home on January 5, 2023 surrounded by loving family. Dorothy is predeceased by her devoted husband of 43 years, Norman E. Burke.

Dorothy is survived by her four children and their families: Kathleen Mary (Burke) Kelley and her husband, Neil, of Uxbridge, MA; Sheila Ann Burke of Meredith, NH; David Walter Burke of Berlin, MA, and Lauren Margaret (Burke) de Constant and her husband Alex of North Hampton, NH; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Ryan Burke Kelley and his son Elias; Caroline Sullivan Kelley and her son Cashel and daughters Audrey and Nadine; Alanna Catherine Kelley; Meredith Faye (Kelley) Kendrick and her husband Blake; Maeve Elizabeth de Constant; and William Burke de Constant.

Dorothy “Dot” was born on May 17, 1933, in Natick, MA. She was the daughter of D. Wallace and Mary (Kirby) Sullivan. She moved from Brockton when she was very young and grew up in Framingham. A graduate of Framingham High School, Class of 1950 and of The Fay School of Boston, Dot enjoyed a career as an administrative assistant in a variety of settings while building her family and a large network of enduring friendships. Dorothy and her family eventually relocated to southern Connecticut where she and Norman (“Norm”) became involved in sailing. They became members of Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop, MA and spent many hours on the ocean exploring the coastlines of the Eastern Seaboard and the islands of New England.

Dot and Norm were longtime parishioners at St. Anselm’s Parish, where Dorothy served as President of the Women’s Guild and as a long-running member of the Red Hats Club. She also served as department assistant to the Town Clerk of Sudbury for a number of years and as the office manager at the Behavior Therapy Institute in Sudbury. For many years, Dot was also a top scorer in the local Women’s Bowling League, often earning the “High Average of the Year” honor.

Dot’s passions included gardening (she knew every plant), bird watching from her porch, enjoying literature of all kinds, and writing letters to family and friends. She was an expert knitter and loved to sew and cook. Her apple pie is legendary. Dot loved to travel and, along with her husband Norm, took their young family on a cross-country trip to see much of the United States. Together with Norm, with friends, or with family: Dot explored Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Greece, the Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica and Iceland. Much time was spent enjoying the lakes and ocean beaches of New Hampshire and Maine. She loved being by the water and sitting in the sunshine.

Dorothy was always striving to create memories with her beloved family. Summer vacations were a must, and she was ‘that mom’ pitching a ball to one of her kids in the front yard. A special place was held in her heart for each of her grandchildren and her greatest joy of late was spending time with her great-grandchildren. She loved all kinds of music and knew how to play the piano. Dorothy never missed an opportunity to connect in a meaningful way with the people in her life and was a trusted friend to many. An animal lover, Dorothy owned several cherished dogs in her lifetime. She will be remembered for her warm and gracious nature, her pithy wit and her beautiful blue eyes.

Dorothy’s family wishes to extend a heartfelt thanks to the team at JHC Hospice (an affiliate of Jewish Healthcare Center) for their exceptional care and support, to Tri-Valley, Inc. for their services, and to all who lovingly helped care for Dorothy in her home.

Visiting Hours will be held in the Duckett - J.S. Waterman & Sons Home of Memorial Tribute, 656 Boston Post Road (Rt. 20), SUDBURY on Friday, January 20th, 2023 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Anselm Church, 100 Landham Road, Sudbury on Saturday, January 21st, 2023, at 11:00 am. Please go directly to the church Saturday morning. All in attendance will be welcome to share in a luncheon buffet immediately following Mass. Burial will be private by the family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation or become a member of the Native Plant Trust in Framingham, Massachusetts https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/.