Rita M. Burk

1925 - 2018

Rita M. (McMahon) Burk
Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother & Sister

LOWELL - Rita M. (McMahon) Burk, 92, a longtime resident of the Belvidere section of Lowell, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, passed away Monday, February 19, 2018 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the widow of the late Edward E. Burk Jr. who passed away in 1998 after 48 years of marriage.

She was born on September 10, 1925 and was a daughter of the late Francis McMahon and the late Irene (Johnson) McMahon. She was raised in Lowell where she attended the area schools, graduating from Lowell High School.

Rita worked as the bookkeeper in the family owned Burk Auto Service of Lowell. In her younger days, she worked for many years at the Mohair Plush in Lowell before her marriage to Edward. Together they moved to Belvidere in 1956 and became communicants of the Immaculate Conception Church.

Her favorite vacations were times spent with her family, extended family and friends, vacationing at Rangely Lake, ME. Those memories are still remembered and talked about by all who enjoyed the times spent together. She also enjoyed sitting under an umbrella with her feet in the sand on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. She also spent many days enjoying her grandsons hockey games.

Rita was a kind, caring, selfless and loving woman to all who knew her. Her smile would light up a room. Her greatest joy in life was caring for her husband, children, and in later years her grandchildren, who were her pride and joy. She will be dearly missed by all who have had the fortune of having her in their lives.

Rita is survived by her four children, Edward F. Burk of Lowell, Mary Kathryn Burk and her husband, David Eaton of Melvin Village, NH, Susan Garrigan of Lowell, and Richard J. Burk and his wife, Carol of Westford; and her grandchildren, Kevin Burk and his fiancé, Jackie Lafferty of South Boston, Philip Garrigan and his fiancé, Nicole Donovan of Lowell, Patrick Garrigan of Lowell, Kimberly Burk of Salem, MA, and Kristen Burk of Westford.

She is also survived by her siblings, Esther Peavey of Tewksbury, Shirley Mello, Irene Shaughnessy, Robert McMahon, and Gerald McMahon and his wife, Fran, all of Lowell; her sisters-in-law Cindy McMahon of Dracut, Rita Copley and her husband Bill of North Attleboro, and Mildred Martin of Chelmsford; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Philip Joseph Garrigan; and her siblings, Beverly Flood, Francis (Mac) McMahon and George McMahon.

BURK - YOU ARE INVITED TO HER CALLING HOURS FROM 4 UNTIL 8 P.M. ON FRIDAY AT THE MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 NESMITH STREET, LOWELL 978-452-6361. ON SATURDAY, HER FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT THE FUNERAL HOME AT 9 A.M. HER FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, 144 EAST MERRIMACK STREET, LOWELL AT 10 A.M. FOLLOWED BY PROCESSION TO ST. MARY CEMETERY IN TEWKSBURY. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS IN HER MEMORY MAY BE MADE TO: Alzheimer's Association, 309 WAVERLY OAKS ROAD, WALTHAM, MA 02452 OR TO THE MERRIMACK VALLEY HOME HEALTH FOUNDATION, ATTN: EXTERNAL RELATIONS, 360 MERRIMACK STREET, BUILDING 9, LAWRENCE, MA 01843. PLEASE VISIT WWW.MAHONEYFUNERALHOME.COM TO SEND THE FAMILY AN E-CONDOLENCE.