Jessica Lydia Burke

Born on May 12, 1943, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Jessica was proud of her heritage, enjoyed speaking her native Spanish, and would kindly remind folks who might not know that Puerto Ricans are United States citizens too. 

In her youth, she moved to Miami where friends remembered her as a bit of a rabblerouser.  There she met the love of her life, Tom, during his military service. As the story goes, they worked in the same federal building. Tom overheard a coworker ask Jessica out, so he promptly arranged for the other fellow to be on duty. Jessica and Tom went out instead. He was just her type of troublemaker. They married in 1965. 

Jessica adored being a dedicated mother and military wife. Several duty stations and three sons later, they settled in Louisville when Tom retired from active duty. Jessica was a homeroom mom, den mother, and the biggest fan of whatever sport her kids tried in the Highview and Okolona areas. She also went back to college and graduated from the University of Louisville. “You never stop learning,” she taught her sons. Jessica was a rock of positivity even as she cared for Tom through extended illness until his passing in 1994. 

Later in life, Jessica taught Spanish to others. She also worked at the St. Gabriel Catholic School After School Enrichment Program in Fern Creek where she famously taught the kids the “Gorilla Dance”. A world traveler, Jessica visited over 40 countries, often with her spirited travel companion and mother, Lydia, whom she cared for until her passing in 2006. 

At home, Jessica would cheer on her alma mater (“Go Cards!”), listen to the King (“Elvis Yeah!”), and dance whether anyone was watching or not (“It’s great exercise, man”). She greeted every visitor with a big smile and warm hug. A natural caregiver, her superpowers were exuberance, kindness, and love.

Jessica is predeceased by her husband, Tom, her parents, Lydia and Jesse Sr., and her brother, Jesse, Jr. She leaves an indelible mark on every life she touched, forever cherished by her three sons, Steve, Jim (Dianne), and Kevin (Amber), three grandchildren whom she adored, Sean (Alyse), Erin, and Jess, her nephew Jesse, and a wide circle of friends and relatives. 

She will reunite with Tom at Lebanon National Cemetery, but there will be no formal services per Jessica’s directions. Instead, her family will celebrate her enduring spirit, laugh loudly, listen to Elvis, eat and drink too much, and play her favorite board game, Parcheesi, for the usual buy-in of a quarter. Per her wishes and her example, the rules will not be strictly followed. 

Jessica was fond of saying, “Please bring flowers while I'm alive because I wouldn’t much need them afterwards.”  In lieu of floral arrangements, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), and Aldersgate Memory Care at Wesley Manor Retirement Community (www.wesman.org).