Evelyn Jean (Faunce) Burke

Evelyn Jean Burke, 95, wife of the late Walter Burke, passed away peacefully after a short illness, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, February 25th at Ingraham Manor, Bristol, where she had resided for the past year. 

Born in Pequabuck Ct. On May 21, 1930, to the late Frederick and Helen (Govotski) Faunce, she was a lifelong Terryville resident. She attended local schools, graduated from EC Goodwin Tech, and later married Walter Burke in June of 1950. Together they built a life, and home and raised a family of four children. She was an active and devoted communicant of Saint Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Terryville and proudly continued her faithfulness when she could no longer physically attend masses at her beloved church. 

In the early years when her children were young, she was simply "Mom". When the opportunity arose, and in an effort to give her family a few of the amenities, she returned to the workforce as a valued 30-year employee at Iseli's. During that period, she, Walter and the children enjoyed wonderful yearly vacations at Cape Cod. Later, when the children were grown, she and Walter took several cross country motor vacations, enjoying every site and sound along the way while visiting many of their beloved family members. Several years after Walter's passing, Evelyn relocated to Quail Hollow in Plymouth and for the next 12 years found much joy in her baking, crocheting, sewing and especially in the creation of amazing friendships with her caring neighbors of her complex. She loved them and greatly appreciated all that they did with and for her. She never watched a Western she didn't like and always had a "Word Find" challenge by her side. 

She was the consummate optimist, always with a smile and a gleam in her eyes. 

To know her was to love her. She was a selfless caregiver to so many. She gave such compassionate care to her husband Walter, as his health declined as well as her parents, aunts and uncles before him. When it was her time to have her own special care, her lifelong compassion was repaid tenfold by the many angels at Ingraham Manor who treated her with love, dignity, laughter and understanding. She could not have been in better hands than with these amazing people, especially Colleen, Kathy, MJ, Erica, Reani, Sierra, Alba (Mama) and her amazing friend and roommate Mary. There are too many to say, but we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. God Bless you all. 

She leaves behind four children to honor her memory: Walter (Deb) Burke of Medford, NJ; Deborah (Neil) Malley of Terryville, Karen Burke of Terryville and Gail (Brad) Norton of Bristol. She also leaves her grandchildren Ryan (Maria) Malley of Waterbury, Chelsea (Rick) Block of Canton, Taylor (Abby) Norton of Berlin, Brandon Burke of California, Meredith (TJ) Lanser of Deptford, NJ, Caroline (Alejandro) Artsen of Cherry Hill, NJ and David Burke of Terryville. She also leaves seven great-grandchildren: Jonas and Chloe Burke, Kai Block, Logan and Rowan Norton, and Lillian and Evelyn (her namesake) Lanser. She was proud of them all and relished her role as mother, Babci and family matriarch. She also leaves behind beloved nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Walter, her beloved sister Virginia Lecko, brother Frederick Faunce II, much loved sisters and brothers-in-law and many treasured aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. 

In lieu of flowers, if you’d like to make a donation in Evelyn’s memory to a cause that was dear to her, please consider:
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
PO Box 302
Maryknoll, NY  10545-0302                                 

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 12:45PM from the Scott Funeral Home, 169 Main St, Terryville, to St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, 35 Allen St, Terryville, for a divine liturgy at 1:00PM. Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery in the Spring. Family and friends may visit at the funeral home from 11:30 until leaving for church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Evelyn Jean (Faunce) Burke, please visit our floral store.