Rosemary Ann Burke

ROSEMARY A. BURKE died peacefully on Tuesday, November 29th surrounded by her family. She will be remembered for her love of God, and love for family and friends, but also her quick wit, warm hospitality, and beautiful gardens. Rosemary Hanna was born in Philadelphia and her family resettled in Youngstown, Ohio when she was a young girl. She graduated from Ursuline Catholic High School, and met George Burke “…after the boys came back from the war”. They married in 1949 and immediately started a family that would grow to 11 children, 26 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. They are proud to be that Irish Catholic family you hear about. Over the next 67 years, Rosemary created warm and loving homes in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Michigan, and Florida.

Rosemary loved to be surrounded by her family and friends. She entertained often, and thought nothing of making a last-minute dinner for 20. Her meals were legendary for being delicious and eclectic, often serving her Irish versions of spaghetti and (giant) meatballs, her famous chicken chop suey, and a pork roast for George – all in the same meal. Nobody went hungry at Rosemary’s. Like many great cooks, Rosemary was also a legendary restaurant critic but nevertheless was always up for a night out with friends.

Other loves included reading, her incredible gardens full of bunny statues, holding a baby and, of course, golf. Rosemary only took up the sport late in life, after the last child (finally) left home, and golf became a passion. She is the owner of two holes-in-one, but mysteriously never revealed the club she used. She also passed on her love of classic movies to many of her kids, and was a walking encyclopedia for 1940’s and 50’s features. Rosemary was always ready to go the theatre, and even insisted on attending the midnight premiere of “Lord of the Rings” with her grandkids – a story they will happily tell you. She loved her smart phone, and would often be seen sending text messages to her family, reading books, or updating her Netflix cue. She hated to fly, but somehow managed to see the world. She met the Pope, visited her ancestors on the Emerald Isle, and even navigated the Nile.

But her singular passion was George. They shared 67 amazing years together. To watch them glide as one across a dance floor – graceful, effortless, passionate – was to understand true love. Rosemary and George have a subscription to satellite radio, but only listen to one romantic station - Sinatra. “Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars…” Rosemary preferred it when George whistled along. If you ask them what their proudest achievement was, they always say their family. For Rosemary, the holes-in-one were a very close second.

Rosemary is survived her husband George, and her 4 siblings Charles (Patricia) Hanna, Kathleen (Dave) Lauerman, John (Donna) Hanna, and Bill (Marcia) Hanna. Rosemary’s 11 children are Bob, Mary Cay, Christopher (Cynthia), Chuck (Susan), John (Linda), Beth (Bill), Brian (Mary), Dan (Kim), Paul (Cindy), Henry (Tracey), and Bridget (Kevan). Rosemary loved her 26 grandchildren, which include Shannon, Claire, Hanna Rose, Patrick, Ashley Rose, Jonathan, Michael, Lauren, Jessica, Marc, Jake, Christopher, Kevin, Erin, Nick, Danielle, Brendan, Lyndsay, Jenna Rose, Jourden, Harrison, Emma Rose, Molly, Kellen, Renny, and Weylin – and of course her 6 great-grandchildren too; Eleanor Rose, Eli, Malia, Rylie, Joseph, and Maria.

Rosemary’s family and friends will gather for visitation on Thursday, December 8th, from 4 PM – 8 PM at Elton Black & Son Funeral Home in White Lake. Visitation will also be held at 10 AM on Friday, December 9th at St. Patrick Catholic Church, followed by a funeral mass at 11 AM. St. Patrick Parish, 9086 Hutchins Rd., White Lake, MI 48386.

The family asks that donations be made to Rosemary’s favorite charity, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, where they volunteered for many years. They support both the Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapters in White Lake, MI (stpatrickwhitelake.org/84), and in Punta Gorda, FL (svdppuntagorda.org).