Millicent May Thomas Burke

Millicent "Milly" May Thomas Burke, 81 of Punta Gorda, FL died on Thursday, November 22, 2018 at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, FL following a brief illness. Milly was preceded in death by her parents, two older brothers, four older sisters and her devoted and loving husband Dick. She is survived by sons, Rich Burke (Carrie) of Powell, OH, and John (Julie) Burke of Blue Bell, PA, and daughter Suzanne (Thomas) Ulry of Columbus, OH; grandchildren April, Josh, Ali, Erin, Becca, Rachael, Carley and Emily; great-grandchildren Curtis, Joseph, Trenton, Molly, and Jacqueline; siblings Virginia (Bill) Ross, California City, CA, John (Katie) Thomas of Dublin, GA, and Beverly (Tony) Tillich of Madison, WI, as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family. Milly was born on November 1, 1937 in Vincennes, IN to Clyde and Eliza Thomas and spent her childhood in Indiana and Wisconsin. She met her beloved husband Dick while engaging in nursing studies in Greenville, SC. Married in 1957, Milly and Dick initially resided in Hamden, CT and bought their first home Wallingford, CT. Subsequent transfers relocated the family to Louisville, KY, Columbus, OH, back to Louisville, KY as empty nesters and ultimately settling in Punta Gorda, FL to enjoy their retirement years in the warmth and sun. Milly and Dick extensively remodeled their home and landscaped its surroundings making it a comfortable and welcoming place for all to visit. A beloved friend and neighbor, Milly was known for her love of sharing cherished memories of her life and family and had a fondness for sharing advice from the lessons she learned in life. She was an accomplished seamstress and an avid gardener, with a special attraction to roses and orchids. Milly had a penchant for doing it her way and did it that way until the day she left this world to join Dick in eternal rest. She will forever be missed by her loving family. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions to Variety, the Children's Charity of Greater Philadelphia, P.O.Box 609, Worcester, PA 19491, https://varietyphila.org/get-involved/donate/.