Theresa C. Burke

THERESA C. BURKE (nee Cerrito) age 81, beloved wife for 58 years of David; loving mother of Carrie Burke and Matthew (wife Anthea); devoted Nana of Francesca, Alexandra and Madeleine; cherished daughter of the late Giuseppe and Maria Teresa (nee Amata) Cerrito; dearest sister of Anthony J. Cerrito. Contributions may be made in memory of Theresa to Hospice of the Western Reserve P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland, OH 44192 or Visiting Angels 8451 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060.

Theresa C. Burke was born on February 19, 1938 in Sant’Agata, Sicily. She came to the U.S.A. from Sicily in 1939. Theresa graduated from Beaumont High School in 1955, and from the University of Dayton in 1959 with a B.A. in Education. She received her Master’s Degree in Education from John Carroll University in 1972. She has been a resident of Gates Mills since 1966 and prior to that Cleveland Heights. Theresa was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. She was a high school French teacher at Solon High School for over 30 years, where she established the foreign language program and touched thousands of students. She loved European history and art and was an avid reader. Theresa’s hobbies included playing tennis, watching movies, knitting and needlepoint, and listening to the Cleveland Orchestra. She also enjoyed playing bridge with her gang, and loved flowers, especially orchids which she tended lovingly. She loved to decorate her house especially at Christmas when she proudly displayed her collection of French Santons around the baby Jesus in a manger. Theresa was fond of traveling, especially in Europe, and was a devoted Cleveland Browns fan. Theresa was intelligent, hard-working and passionate about all things French and teaching her students the French language. She was a loving, caring, and devoted wife, mother, and Nana. She treasured spending time with her family and friends, and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 10 AM. Burial following at Lake View Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Theresa at THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATIONS CENTER OF CHESTERLAND 12811 CHILLICOTHE ROAD (Rt. 306, just south of Mayfield Rd.)  MONDAY 4-8 PM.