Obituary of Miriam Burke
Beloved mother to Natalie (Chris) and Darren (Orisha), beloved grandmother to Sonia, Benjamin and Daniel (Natalie) and Claire, Naomi and Noah (Darren). Miriam is predeceased by her beloved parents Max and Sonia and younger brother Louis (2015) (Elizabeth).
A tribute to a warm and loving friend and devoted mother. Miriam (Goldstein) Burke was born in 1939 and raised in London, Ontario in the South-Central neighbourhood. The Goldstein family were active members of the synagogue community. Miriam attended Governor Simcoe and Central CI. She grew up in a loving family with a strong entrepreneurial work ethic that prized self-sufficiency, cultivating a garden and chickens in the yard and managing the corner store on Horton and Clarence. Miriam enjoyed attending school, with a particular love of languages.
After high school, Miriam moved to Toronto and worked in legal administration. She married Raphael and settled down in North York, being blessed with a 'millionaire family' of a girl and boy, providing a loving and vibrant home. The family were active members of the Adath Israel synagogue community, walking to services each Saturday along Wilson Ave. As the children grew up, Miriam continued her career in legal administration.
Later on, Miriam surmounted various obstacles in her life to flourish, working for the office of Community Outreach Programs and maintaining a loving circle of friends and family. She enjoyed many happy years with her companion Jack Rosen, socializing in the Jewish community, playing in bridge tournaments, dining out and taking cruise vacations.
When Miriam moved to Richmond Hill, she began volunteering on the condo board, meeting a charming Irishman named Stan Levine. They became partners and spent many happy years together enjoying the activities in the retirement community, swimming, playing bridge, cooking and dining out, and travelling.
Miriam has been cared for with kindness and consideration at Revera Columbia Forest Long Term Care in Waterloo, and has maintained her love for competitive card games, a good chat and a butterscotch sundae. Her ability to dominate and politely destroy her opponents at the Bridge or Euchre table were legendary. She was extremely proud of and fiercely loving of her grandchildren and always supported their achievements with her encouraging words. Her memory will live on with us to honor her kind and loving spirit.
Miriam will be laid to rest at the Green Meadows Natural Burial Ground of Parkview Cemetery, 335 University Avenue East, Waterloo on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 12:30 p.m. A gathering at the Parkview Chapel on site at the Cemetery will commence at 11:30 a.m.
If you so choose, the family requests that a charitable donation in honor of Miriam can be made to Alzheimer Society of Ontario by using the Donations tab on her home page.
Please share your memories, photos and sentiments of Miriam's life here at her memorial web page.
Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.
- Modern Funerals -
