Catherine A Burke

It is with deep sadness that the family of Catherine Burke announces her passing after a difficult and brave battle with cancer. Cathy was a truly one-of-a-kind woman who filled each room with her exuberant personality and love of life. She was the daughter of Frederick and Catherine Pfister, and was born October 13, 1959, in Paterson, NJ. She was a lifelong resident of Midland Park. She cherished spending her summers on Cape Cod with family and friends. She loved music and could be seen at all the band concerts on the cape. She was a 1977 graduate of Paramus Catholic High School and graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, NY in 1981. She received her MA in Speech-Language Pathology from Seton Hall University in 1984. She married the love of her life, Cyril Burke on November 25, 1984, and they moved to Lisbon, Portugal in January 1985. Cathy enjoyed her first job as a speech-language pathologist at the American International School in Lisbon, where she worked at both campuses in Monte Estoril and Carnaxide. Upon returning to the U.S., she worked in the Old Tappan Elementary Schools, then for 35 years at Bergen County Special Services. Cathy loved the arts and supported her son in his magic career. She was an active participant in her son's life and took a front seat at his milestone events as well as his day-to-day activities. She also cherished her days as an assistant den mother. Cathy enjoyed sewing and making Halloween costumes for her family, as well as hosting parties. Cathy loved nature and animals, especially her two Siamese cats. She was an avid swimmer, and in her youth, she was a lifeguard and taught Red Cross swimming lessons. In college, she could always be seen swimming laps in the pool at the Mount or Manhattan College, and earned the nickname, "Fin." She was also an avid tennis and racquetball player and met her husband through a mutual friend at Raquet-time in Waldwick. Cathy is survived by her loving husband, Cyril, son Sean, brother Robert Pfister, all of Midland Park: her Aunt Lillian and Uncle Chuck of Redondo Beach California, cousins, and numerous friends.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, from 5-8 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 10:30 AM at Church of the Nativity, 315 Prospect St, Midland Park, NJ 07432. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) for Sean Burke.
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