Bartholomew Christopher Burke

Visitation will be held at 11 am to 1 pm on February 6 at Fred Hunters Hollywood Funeral Home.

The graveside service will be held at 2pm on February 6 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery. 

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Fred Hunter's Funeral Home.

Bart Burke, Batty to his brothers and sisters, was born in Dromore West, Sligo, Ireland on May 17, 1930. He followed his brothers to labor in rebuilding London after WWII, and then sailed a ship to Toronto, Canada. Bart married Therese Donegan in Toronto on December 1, 1956, and they moved to Chicago to start a family and be near his sister Anne Sheridan.

Bart, a member of the Chicago Truck Drivers Union, was a laborer and forklift driver at Jewel warehouse in Melrose Park for 30 years. His lifelong joy was Irish music and dancing. Saturday evenings were spent at Irish ceili dances. He drove his children to Irish and American music lessons, and traveled the Midwest for Irish dancing competitions, the Feis. He also gave Irish musicians a home cooked meal and a bed on occasion. He volunteered most Saturdays laboring to revamp Chicago’s Irish American Heritage Center. When his wife Therese took a job in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Bart retired full time, spending his days reading two or three newspapers, refereeing Gaelic football, and adventuring on his bicycle. Living the immigrants’ dream, Bart and Therese creating a second home, spending many happy summers in West Cork, Ireland, and warm winters in Florida.

Bart lived a long life; he was sharp and witty right to the last breath. Bart is survived by his loving sister Chriss, children Marge (Harold), Sean. Pat (Jackie), Anne, and Tom (Caryl) and grandchildren Bart, Therese, Harold John, Rich, Dan, George, Caitlin, Clinton, Angela, Paul, Mikey, and Rowen and 21 great grandchildren. He was proceeded in death by his wife Therese, son-in-law Dennis, brothers Micheal, Sean, sisters Anne, Josie, and Molly. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be given to the Irish American Heritage Center. 

The family of Bart Burke wishes to thank loved ones and cousins, friends, and neighbors, especially those around Ballinacarriga, County Cork, for your sympathy and kindness.