Mary Alice BURKE

BURKE, Mary Alice (Murphy) Age 88, of West Windsor, New Jersey, passed away on November 21, 2025. Mary was the youngest child of Frederick J. Murphy and Mary (Ewing) Murphy and grew up in Jamaica Plain, MA. Mary graduated from Girls Latin in 1955 and Emmanuel College in 1959, majoring in English. She earned a Masters Degree in Library Science from Simmons College.

Mary met her husband, Bill, at the Boston Public Library as teenagers, where they both worked. They married in 1960 and settled in West Windsor, NJ, in 1967, and never left. Mary worked as a substitute teacher and librarian in the local schools for a period of time and ultimately became an underwriter at NJM Insurance, where she worked for three years retiring in 2010.

Mary will be remembered for her unwavering commitment to family and friends and her wonderful sense of humor.

Mary "Coco" was close to all her children and grandchildren, regularly hosting family dinners coupled with seasonal traditions that the grandchildren would get very excited about. She and Bill were regulars at soccer and football games, baseball and basketball games, dance recitals and equestrian events. She loved reading, puzzles and going to the movies. Mary and Bill traveled extensively during retirement with visits to national parks, as well as Florida, Canada, Europe and Africa. One of their last trips was a cruise through the Panama Canal.

Mary is survived by her children, Bill (Phyllis), Kathleen (Bruno), Theresa and Michael (Mariana); grandchildren, Christine Seibert (Bob), Kevin Burke (Anna), Sean Burke (Kellie), Grace Mastropasqua, Sheila Mastropasqua, Peter Mastropasqua, Alex Jankowski (Sarah), Austin Jankowski, Sophia Burke, Thomas Burke, Lauren Burke; and five great-grandchildren; her brother, Rev. Monsignor Frederick J. Murphy of Boston, MA; sisters-in-law, Mary Pierce of Cumberland, RI, Margaret Lee and husband, Christopher, of Holliston, MA, Frances Burke of Naples, FL and Marie Burke of Billerica, MA; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, Frederick Murphy and Mary Ewing Murphy; husband, William; brother, Dr. John Murphy; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Murphy; brothers-in-law, Richard and Edmund Burke; and nephew, Richard Burke.

Visitation will be held Monday, December 15, 2025, from 5-8 pm, at the Mather Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., PRINCETON, NJ 08542. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 10:30 am, at St. David the King Church, 1 Village Road, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Mary's name to the Joslin Clinic, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215 or Emmanuel College, 400 The Fenway, Boston MA 02115.