Amelia Burke

Amelia Ladriere Burke, age 101, peacefully passed from this life on November 22, 2006 at Chester River Manor, Chestertown, Maryland. Born in Spring City, Pennsylvania, on February 15, 1905, Amelia was the daughter of the late Emile and Lucia Gregoire Ladriere and the beloved sister of Luciene (Lucile) Ladriere Manion, also deceased. Mrs. Burke graduated from Salem College in Salem, West Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Amelia was a dedicated teacher who enjoyed her work with grade school children for twenty-seven (27) years in Harrison County, West Virginia and for eight (8) years in New Castle County, Delaware. She was a talented pianist with a special love for all music. She shared her talents as both a singer and musician by staging and directing musicals throughout her teaching career in West Virginia. Amelia was the founder and director of the Clarksburg, West Virginia Business & Professional Women’s Chorus, a group that entertained at many civic and social events. Amelia was also a member of the honorary sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma. She actively supported the charitable and missionary work of the Franciscan friars through her lifelong membership in St. Anthony’s Guild. Amelia enjoyed traveling and shared fond memories of her trips with her parents and Lucile to visit her grandparents in Belgium. In her retirement years, she especially cherished her time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter Margaret and her husband Boyce Failing of Wyoming, Delaware; three grandchildren and their families, Victoria and William Pfeifer and daughters, Emily and Meagan, of Newark, Delaware; Eric and Brenda Failing and son, Alex, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Brandon and Wanda Failing and son, Ryan, of Dover, Delaware. Her nephew, David L. Manion, of Joppa Towne, Maryland and two godchildren, Marie Bohlayer of Freeland, Maryland, and Michael Manion of San Diego, California, also survives her. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 12:00 noon at Holy Cross Catholic Church, South State Street, Dover Delaware. Friends may call at the Church Gathering Space prior to the Mass from 11:00 to 12:00. Interment will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at Green Lawn Cemetery, Clarksburg, West Virginia. The graveside service will begin at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Amelia’s name to support the work of the Franciscan Friars at St. Anthony’s Guild, 4 Jersey Street, East Rutherford, New Jersey 07073.