BURKE Ann

BURKE NOONAN HALLINAN

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 2/21/2005 at 18:40:43

A Good Mother Gone

The Catholic Messenger: - Another devoted wife, mother and Catholic pioneer of Iowa has answered the final call, Mrs Ann Burke a resident of Dougherty, Iowa, was born in Ireland Aug. 14, 1833. When but six months of age she came with her parents to the United States and took up her residence at Watertown Massachusetts.
Here she grew to young womanhood, her noble christian life shedding sunshine and joy among her acquaintances.
On the 12th day of January 1850 she was married to the late Patrick C. Burke. He had just returned from service in the Mexican war and also was a resident of Watertown Massachusetts.

In the year 1857, the young couple lured by the enchantments of the west and of Iowa, with three small children came to Garryowen, Jackson County, Iowa, where they resided until the year 1883, when they moved to a farm in Dougherty township Cerro Gordo County.

Mr and Mrs Burke lived happily together for over half a century and raised a large family of thirteen children.
Mr Burke was made of stern, unflinching unswerving Irish stock and gained the confidence and respect of all who knew him for his fairness and honesty, and was favored by his neighbors and fellow citizens in various places of trust.
He always found in his devoted wife an encouraging helpmate, such as is always necessary in a succesful and happy family.
Mr Burke preceded his wife only a few years ago, dying rich in honor and respected by all who knew him.

Three of Mrs Burke's children, Mrs Patrick Noonan, Mrs Charles Hallinan and Mrs. E. J. Murphy are dead, each leaving little children to mourn their loss, and for whoim their good and tender hearted grandmother was ever solicitious
and most generously contributed to their motherly wants.

From this happy Christian-home was contributed four noble women who gave up everything for the service of their Master, and joined religious orders.
These are Sister M. Faustina of New Hampton, Iowa; Sister M. Osmunda, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sister M. Eluna of Chicago and Sister M. Martin of Chicago. Those remaining at the old home in
Dougherty, Iowa are Catherine, Steven, Alice and Emma, unmarried and Mrs Joe Cooney and Dr. Charles Burke, an eminent physician of Atlantic, Iowa.

Words fail us in describing the noble life's work of this most devoted Christian mother. From the large field of human knowledge and from the most vivid imangination can not be found adequate means of expressing the goodness and great work that this estimable lady did.

How dear to her surviving children will always be the word mother. How uncomplaining she cared for their every want; how solicitious she always was for their welfare, and especially for their Christian and moral welfare. She urged them not into the world to gain applause; she flattered them not with admonitions to excel in the struggles of life's battles for material things, but by precept, kindly and motherly care, directed their footsteps ever toward Calvary's Hill, and the fruits of her labors have been proven by the number that went from her home willingly and without urging to join the noble band of Christian women who make up the great sisterhood of our Mother Church.

Uncomplainingly she made great sacrifices for the orphan chilren, not only those of her own children, but of a lot of others.

The extent of her earthly empire was limited, but within the domain which was her lot, she successfully and grandly worked out the tasks that came to her and laid down the cares of her trust with a willingness and a submission that comes only from the truly Christian soul.
Her devoted children and grand-children prize most highly the name of mother.