Death Notices (10/17/03)
BURKE, Kerry. At the McMaster University Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, Kerry aged forty-seven, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2003 after a long and difficult struggle with a rare illness. Predeceased by her sister, Karleen, she is survived by her parents, Shirley and Donald, her brother Ronald (Charlene), and their children, Janice, Kevin and Michelle, and her brother Robert (Andrea) and their daughter Kailyn. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Kerry was a couple of years my junior but I remember her from Roxboro. She was a tomboy who always wore a baseball cap with her ponytail poking out through the back of it. Her sister’s obituary appeared in the Ottawa paper but it must have been before they started archiving. I don’t know if they both died of the same illness…how sad for the family.

Enid Moore King

I remember Kerry as I had a crush on her way back in high school. She was a very nice person. My condolences to her family.

Bill Redmond - Friend

Kerry and her sister Karleen were two of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to grow up with; both were tomboys in their own ways.

Kerry I ran into a few times later coming back from some exotic backpacking adventure walking along 11th Avenue in Roxboro with her rucksack. She always had an interesting story to tell.

Karleen was a goalie in our street hockey games on 16th Street. She hated to be left out of anything that was going on. I think she enjoyed it a lot.

She fell out of a tree in her backyard one time and had a stick go through her leg... that wasn't a very good thing but I remember she was back in stride pretty quickly looking for another adventure.

I heard about Karleen a while back but didn't know Kerry had passed on as well. Both of these young ladies will definitely be missed.

In memorial I would like to submit the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson who spoke beautifully about life and passing on:

Crossing the Bar:

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

May you rest peacefully Kerry and Karleen, with love and respect from your friends on 16th Street.

Roy Neumann - Friend