Maria Elena Burge

Maria Elena Burge was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 21, 1942. Throughout most of her life, she went by her middle name, Elena. In her spiritual world, she was known as Tajali. Elena moved to Florida in 1970, but her personality, heart, and soul belonged to Brooklyn. She always considered Brooklyn her true home. She was Sicilian through and through and spoke with the highest pride and love of her Brooklyn and Sicilian roots. Elena is survived by her four children, Tommy, Tony (and Rie), Elizabeth (and Cary), Jennifer and nine grandchildren: Michael (and Holly), Skye (and Grace), Stormie, Brooke (and Bender), Alyssa, Haley, John, Matthew, and Jaylin, and her siblings: Tony, Joanne (and Mike), Roe, along with other beloved family members and close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Mamie Cincotta, her beloved granddaughter Natalie, her loving husband, Joe, and many other family members whom she loved fiercely as well.

Elena was a person of immense passion. When she loved someone or something, she loved with her whole heart. She was creative, caring, loving, funny, feisty, and took the greatest pride in every little part of the decoration of her always immaculately clean home. At her heart and soul, her most cherished role was as a mother and a grandmother. She raised her children to be “close and pleasing to God.” That was always her prayer. She was born for the role of being a mother and grandmother. In her youth, in Brooklyn, she volunteered at an orphanage and spoke so highly of that experience for her entire life. She also had an in-home daycare for many years.

Elena loved each one of her children deeply and expressed her love eloquently and consistently. She shared an unshakeable bond with each in their own ways and was so proud of each one, as she expressed frequently. She was the type of mother that you could tell anything to, even your failings and darkest fears and thoughts, and she would listen without judgement. She would respond honestly, but without judgement. She had a way of providing nurturing comfort that was beyond what most people ever experienced. She was the one her children and grandchildren wanted to tell good things to as well, because she responded with immense enthusiasm and excitement. Her love was unmistakable and unwavering, even during difficult times. As a grandmother, she was nothing short of perfection. She adored every little thing about her grandchildren and had the type of relationship with them that was beyond words. She absolutely beamed whenever talking about any of them. They brought her indescribable joy. The loss of Natalie broke her heart, a loss from which she never recovered; the cost of the soul-level bond they shared. She adored every one of her siblings and nieces and nephews. She truly appreciated the love, support and protectiveness her brother Tony and sister Joanne shared with her, all the way until the very end of her life. Every person that came into her life felt the love and support that she had a unique way of providing. It was truly felt by all who knew her, her way of making everyone feel heard, valued, and supported.

Elena had many passions, loves, and interests. The most notable, outside of people, were Paris, Brooklyn, spirituality, specifically Sufism, pasta, chocolate- covered marshmallows, anything Italian or from Brooklyn, old movies and movie stars, especially John Wayne and Elizabeth Taylor, and dolls. Many, many dolls. The doll collection was ever-growing throughout the years. All of these passions were interwoven into her whole being. They became synonymous with mom, Grandma, Elena, and her spirit will forever be felt when any of her loved ones see or hear about any of these things. She will be missed every day by all who knew and loved her. It feels somehow impossible to imagine life without her but she lives in each and every one of us and will carry on through our love, memories and her immense impact on all.