Sophie K. Burch

What can you say about a person who was left at five years old in the care of others in a foreign country for nine years, who then travels alone on a ship to the United States, enters through Ellis Island, and travels by train to meet a family she did not remember? As a teenager in America, she had to start in the first grade because she did not speak English. She managed to graduate in two years. This is a person with courage and strength—this is our Mom, Sophie Klancar Burch.

After working for a short period of time, she walked into a Coast Guard recruiting center and signed up. She attended Boot Camp in Palm Beach, Florida and was stationed with the SPARS in New Orleans. It was there she met her husband of 60 years, W. Clyde Burch, another member of the Coast Guard. After World War II, they settled in the Lake Charles area where they raised their family of five.

Our mother embraced her new country. She served in the military, became a citizen, and voted regularly. She appreciated all of our freedoms, saying “whatever this country’s faults, it is still the best place to be”. Her faith played a constant part in her life. She was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Having grown up without a family, she cherished and loved her own. She never failed to smile at the mention of one of her children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her sons, Richard Clyde "Rick" Burch of Rayne; Dr. Wilmot Clyde "Bill" Burch, Jr. and wife Ann of Franklin, TN; daughters, Barbara Burch Kordisch and husband Dr. Foster C. Kordisch of Lake Charles; Dr. Mary Burch Goodwin of Louisville, KY; Nancy Burch Hollingsworth and husband Larry of Jackson, MS; grandchildren, Foster "Clint" Kordisch, Kristin Sanders, Robert Kordisch, Allison Tucker, Max Burch, Madeleine Burch, Lauren Tucker, Jonathan Goodwin, Sophie Goodwin, Prent Hollingsworth, Matthew Burch, Rachel Burch, Christina Burch; great grandchildren, Austin, Abby, Brady and Kaylee Sanders, May and Tripp Kordisch, Sophie, Amelia, Janson and Ashton Tucker, Margeaux and Silas Tucker. She is preceded in death by her husband, Wilmot Clyde Burch and her grandson, Jason Michael Goodwin.

The family would like to thank Odessa Fontenot and Candice Fontenot for their special care and dedication to our mother.

Her service will be Monday, September 17, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. Rev. Alan Trouille will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Scripture Service at 6:30 p.m. and resume Monday from 8:00 a.m. until time of service at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Interment will follow at Consolata Cemetery. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com