Obituary of Margaret Burke

Margaret Burke  

Margaret "Peggy" Dirrane Burke, 89, of Douglassville, PA and formerly of Toms River, NJ, Harrisburg and Norristown, PA, New York, NY, and the Aran Islands, Ireland passed away Monday, March 24, 2025.

Born in Oatquarter, Inishmore on September 20, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Barbara (O'Flaherty) Dirrane. She immigrated to the United States in 1954 at the age of 19.  She was predeceased by her beloved husband of forty-eight years, Garrett T. (Tom) Burke, who passed away in 2007.  In addition to her parents and husband, Peggy was preceded in death by her brothers John (Nan) and Anthony of Ireland, and her three sisters Mollie and Delia Dirrane of Ireland, and Catherine (Jim) Kilcawley of Bronx, NY.

Peggy’s survivors include her four sons, Kevin (Catherine) Burke, Douglas (Lysa) Burke, Garrett (Michelle) Burke, and Kenneth (Jayne) Burke; five grandchildren, Patrick (Kelly Lawler) Burke, Clare Butler Burke (Uday) Nandipati, Zack (Maurine Lambert) Burke, Isabelle (Jake Haas) Burke, and Katie Burke; and one great-granddaughter, Evelyn Frances Burke.  She’s also survived by her dear friend Mary Ann Sheridan of Fords, NJ and her cherished Kilcawley, Dirrane and Sheridan nieces and nephews in the U.S and Ireland.

In addition to raising her four sons, Peggy held numerous jobs over the years, working on the farm in Aran, nurse trainee, nanny, telephone operator, and administrative jobs including HR Benefits Coordinator for Burlington Industries in Audubon, PA.  She lived life to the fullest, enjoying gardening, making ceramics, travelling, camping in the Poconos, caring for her cats and dogs, and being with her friends and family.  Peggy lived many years in Norris Hills and was a member of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Norristown. 

Her Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul's RC Church, 2007 New Hope Street, Norristown, PA.  Visitation for family and friends is on Friday, March 28, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the church before mass.  Interment will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery in East Norriton. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Peggy's name may be made to Humane Pennsylvania, Freedom Center for Animal Lifesaving, 1801 N. 11th Street, Reading, PA 19604 (www.humanepa.org).

Arrangements by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 300 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA, (610) 828-0330.  www.msrfh.com.