Claire I. Burke, 82, of Forest Ave, Middletown, RI formerly of Merton
Road, Newport, died at Grand Islander Health Care Center. She was the
wife of the late James Burke, Jr. Born to the late Raymond J. and
Christina (Gillis) Diggles.
Claire graduated from Rogers High
School and the Newport Hospital School of Nursing. After completing
nursing school, she joined the US Navy Reserves to assist her country
during World War II. She soon met James Burke Jr, and they married. With
her Navy obligations fulfilled, they began a family in Newport. In 1968
Mrs. Burke began working at Newport Hospital as a Registered Nurse,
retiring in 1983. After her husband James died in 1972, she began many
volunteer efforts throughout Newport. Over the years, she volunteered at
St. Clare Home, the Edward King Center, Newport Hospital and the coffee
shop in the West House. She helped her daughter in law with home day
care where the children fondly called her “Grandma Claire”. Mrs. Burke
was a lifelong member of St. Mary´s Church, a member of the Edward King
Center, the Middletown Senior Center, the Newport Hospital Auxillary,
the Newport Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association and Friends of
the Waterfront. She was also a former member of the Catholic Daughters
and the St. Mary´s Altar Guild. Claire had a creative and artistic
personality, she was always prepared with a camera for family occasions.
She enjoyed knitting, painting and crafts, drawing cartoons, hitting
the garage sale circuit and rooting for the Red Sox.
She is
survived by three sons John Burke of Labelle, FL, Thomas Burke of
Newport, RI, and Edward Burke of Newport, RI, two sisters Marjorie
Diggles of Middletown, RI, and Mrs. Roberta Raffa of Middletown, RI,
seven grandchildren Megan Burke, Kevin Burke, Sarah Burke, Liza Folger,
Rob Burke, Erin Burke, and Andrew Burke, six great grandchildren and
several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her sister Janet Diggles DeVeau.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held in St. Mary's Church, Spring Street, Newport.