Descendants of Morgan Bourke
Notes
The next Bourke family is Morgan Burke and Catherine Luddy. Morgan Thomas - Born 15 Jan 1875 and was Baptized 16 Jan 1875 in the Parish of Emly, Co. Tipperary, his Godparents were Thomas Mitchell and Nora Shanahan. Morgan Immigrated to the United States around 1897. At this time his name was changed form Bourke to Burke. After clearing immigrations he went to Waterbury Connecticut where in 1900 he lived as a boarder of John E. Ross at 455 West Main Street. He became a citizen of The United States 15 Oct. 1900 and was sworn in the District Court of Waterbury, County of New Haven. Morgan married Catherine Luddy (see Luddy family) in Waterbury Connecticut abt. 1906. Morgan and Catherine lived in the Luddy's house on Charles St in Waterbury Connecticut for a while then they moved to 11 Albion St. Waterbury Connecticut. Morgan worked for the United States Postal Service until he retired. Morgan died 12 Jan 1963 at the Villa Maria Convalescent Home in Plainfield, Connecticut and was burried in New St. Joesph Cemetery in Waterbury Connecticut 15 Jan 1963. Morgan and Catherine had 5 Children.
Waterbury Republican, January 13, 1963
M.T. Burke Funeral Due Tomorrow
The funeral of Morgan T. Burke, retired postal employee and past president of the former United National Association of Post Office Clerks, who died yesterday in the Villa Maria Hospital, Plainfield, after a long illness will be held tomorrow at 8:15 a.m. from the O'Donnell Funeral Home, 1581 East Main St., to SS Peter & Paul Church for a solemn high Mass at 9. Burial will be in new St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home today from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Mr. Burke had lived in Waterbury more than 60 years prior to moving to Plainfield three years ago. He worked at the Post Office here for 35 years, retiring in 1948. He was a member of the Irish-American Social Club and the East End Community Club. He formerly lived at 11 Albion St.
He was born in Tipperary, Ireland, the son of the late Morgan and Sarah (Hogan) Burke.
He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Donald Connelly, Willimantic; four sons, Atty. Morgan J. Burke, New York City, John Luddy Burke, Cleveland, Ohio, Thomas Albie Burke, Indianapolis, Ind., and Edmund V. Burke, Waterbury; nine grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.January 15, 1963
Miss Sara Bourke
Monmore, Emly
County Tipperary
IrelandMy dear Aunt Sara:
I have the sad task of informing you that on Saturday, January 12th, at about 3:30 A.M., Pop passed away.
For about one week prior, he had been virtually unconscious and had reached the point where he was not even able to take nourishment. Noreen visited him daily and was giving me telephone reports. According to the nurses, he died very quietly and peacefully - - in fact, just about closed his eyes and went off.
We arranged to have him waked just around the corner from the old house on Albion Street. The wake on Saturday night, Sunday afternoon and Sunday night was fantastically well attended. When you realize that he had been out of Waterbury for over five years, that many of his contemporaries had passed away, and that only one of his family - Edmund -- was left in Waterbury, the turnout was most surprising. He, indeed, would have been proud to know the regard and affection in which he was held by the people of Waterbury, and he would have been moved were he able to know that Governor Dempsey (Connecticut's Irish-born Governor) and his staff came down from Hartford on Sunday to attend the wake and the saying of the Rosary.
All the boys and their wives and children attended, together with Noreen, her husband and her children.
A solemn Requiem Mass was said over his body at his old church - St. Peter & Paul - yesterday at 9:00 A.M., and there were approximately 18 priests and Monsignor in the Sanctuary. He was buried alongside of Mom at St. Joseph's Cemetery, and may he rest there in peace. He survived Mon by 10 years short of 10 days, and lived a full life. We all, of course, mourn his passing, but it is truly a blessing from God since, as I have heretofore advised you, he had become senile, deaf, and virtually blind.
His estate is understandably modest; after all, what he earned all his life he spent on his wife and children. I know you will be proud of my brothers when I tell you that each and every one of them has relinquished any interest which would have in his estate, turning it all over to Noreen as a small measure of compensation for what she did taking him into her home four years ago.
I thought you might be interested in the obituary that appeared in the Waterbury paper; the story is a little confused since they did not include you as a survivor and did not give the proper name to my grandmother. In all other details it is accurate, and it was a fitting tribute to him that it appeared on the first page of the newspaper.
There is not much more that I can tell you. He will be long remembered as a good father, and indeed all of us today are proud to be carrying the name of Burke.
Finally, I debated whether I would cable you the news, and decided against it since it always seems to me a harsh means of transmitting sorrowful information. I much preferred writing you in detail and giving you all of the aspects of his death and burial.
With my most affectionate regards, I am
Morgan J. Burke, Jr.
Catherine @- Born Jun. 5 1871# (Birth records Registrar-General vol. 9 page 929) in Spittle, Parish of Ballylanders, County of Limerick, Ireland. Catherine entered the US 13 June 1881 through New York. Catherine married Morgan Burke(see Burke) in Waterbury Conn. in 1906. Catherine lived the remaining of her life after leaving Ireland in Waterbury Conn. Catherine was with her brother Tim on the visit to Ireland when Tim died in 1951. She died 22 Jan. 1953 after raising and seeing all of her children grown and married. She was the last of her family of Luddy's and Generation.
Waterbury Republican Newspaper: Friday, January 23, 1953
Mrs. Burke, Albion St., Succumbs
Mrs. Katherine (Luddy) Burke, wife of Morgan T. Burke, 11 Albion St., died at St. Mary's Hospital yesterday after a brief illness.
She was born in Ireland the daughter of the late John and Hanora (Barlow) Luddy. She has been a resident of Waterbury for close to 70 years.
She was the last surviving member of a family of 17 children who migrated to Connecticut from Ireland. Arriving in Waterbury nearly 70 years ago, the family settled in the Brooklyn section of the city where for many years Mrs. Burke was active in the affairs of St. Patrick's Church.
After moving out of Brooklyn, she settled in the East End section where she lived for the past 23 years. She was a parishioner of SS Peter and Paul Church.
Surviving, besides her husband, are four sons, Morgan J., Larchmont N.Y., John (Luddy) Burke, Wantagh, L.I., Edmund V. of Waterbury, and Thomas (Albie) Burke, Indianapolis, Ind.; a daughter, Mrs. Donald F. Connelly, Willimantic; nine grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held from the Mulville Funeral Home, 270 West Main St., Monday at 8:15 a.m. to SS Peter and Paul Church where a solemn high Mass will be celebrated at 9 o'clock. Burial will be in new St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home tomorrow and Sunday from 2 to 10 p.m.