Mary Geraldine Burke

Mary Geraldine "Gerrie" Burke, 80, of Ottawa passed away Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Ottawa Pavilion. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 PM Saturday, July 21, 2012 at St. Patrick's Church with Rev. Joseph Donton officiating. Visitation will be from 11:30 - 12:30 pm, Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. Mary was born August 6, 1931 in Pontiac, Illinois, to Raymond and Mary (Mulera) Shannon. She married Robert E. Burke on May 29, 1954 at St. Columba Church. He passed away June 26, 2010. She was the secretary for LaSalle Co. School Nurses. She was a member of St. Patrick's Church. She is survived by one daughter, Kathleen (Eugene) Lowery; three sons, Robert (Deborah) G. Burke, John (Debbie) Burke, and Dennis (Cheryl) Burke; three brothers, Raymond (Mary) Shannon, J. Arthur (Lynn) Shannon, and Donald (Ann) Shannon; five sisters, Greta (Ed) Bertrand, Rita Ann (Floyd) Salz, Janet Salz , Coletta Hilton, and Helen (Terry) Powell; sixteen grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband. Pallbearers will be her nephews. Memorials may be directed to Mayo Clinic.