Pamela Insel "Pam" Burke

Pamela "Pam" (Insel) Burke, 77, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away in Louisville on December 13th, 2024 after a recent illness. Pam was a resident of Louisville, KY and Sanibel, FL.
She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, F. Anthony "Tony" Burke, whom she met on a blind date while they attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She was a devoted mom to daughter Jennifer Burke (Michael Kahn) of Quakertown, PA, and son Patrick Burke (Libby) of Nashville, TN. She was a smiling, adoring, proud BeBe (grandmother) to Bennett and Peter Burke.
With her brilliant, warm smile and gregarious personality, no one stayed a stranger with Pam. She is survived by her many friends and acquaintances from her childhood in middle Tennessee, through decades in Louisville, time abroad in England, years of volunteering, her children's friends, and many happy years in Sanibel, first as a visitor, then as resident.
She is also survived by younger sister Patsy Graham (Irwin) of Memphis, TN; nephew Alex Graham (Anna); great-nieces Claire and Lillian; sister-in-law Margaret "CeCe" Schmidt of Durham, NC; and stepmother Johnnie Insel of Tullahoma, TN. She is predeceased by parents Mildred and Herb Insel, and sister-in-law Mary (Burke) Benkel of North Carolina.
Pam earned her bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University (Peabody College) and subsequently taught English at Louisville Collegiate School (1968-1974; plus substitute teaching). She stopped teaching formally when her daughter was born, becoming a lifelong learner, always finding teaching moments for her kids, the many scouts she led, and the young people in her life.
She was a long-time volunteer and executive leader with both Girl Scouts of America and Boy Scouts of America, both in Louisville and in Cobham, England. Pam co-led Camp Shanituck for Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana in the 1980s as Summer Day Camp director. Pam was also a ballroom dance instructor and cotillion teacher at Louisville Cotillion, alongside husband Tony, mother-in-law Mary Long Burke, and daughter Jennifer.
Pam's many civic and social organizations included: Christ Church United Methodist of Louisville (where she loved their music programs); Women's Club of Louisville; Junior League of Louisville; Garden Club of Indian Hills Cherokee Section; Homeowner Association of Forest Green of Blue Ridge Manor (Lyndon); Shellcrafters of Sanibel; and The Ruby Mermaids Red Hat Group of Sanibel.
Pam enjoyed celebrating and hosting friends and family, especially during holidays and Derby, with the collection of hats and Derby glasses to prove it. She introduced her Sanibel friends to the specialness of the First Saturday in May. She loved books, from cozy mysteries to rereading her favorite romance authors, her beloved Southern Living magazine, or the book club choice of the month. She passed her love of reading to her children and grandchildren. While in England she spent enjoyable time, solo and with friends, hunting for bargains and unique finds in her 'collection of collections' from silver and blue-and-white china, to furniture and horse brasses, at 'boot' sales, antique markets, and flea markets all over southern England. She enjoyed many trips with friends and her kids learning local history across the British Isles. She enjoyed years of aqua aerobics, turning classes into a laughing group of girl friends who became the Ruby Mermaids of Sanibel. For many years she enjoyed collecting and crafting with the gorgeous sea shells of Sanibel.
Pam's smile and love lit up the room. She will be missed tremendously by her family and friends.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 11:00 AM ET, at Pearson's of Louisville, 149 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville, KY 40207.
In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy and memory may be made in Pam's memory to:
• The Sanibel Community House at the Sanibel Community Association (home of Shellcrafters) https://sanibelcommunityhouse.net/
• SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) https://sccf.org/
• Donations to your local public library are also welcomed.
Arrangements under the direction of Pearson's,
"where Louisville Goes to Remember"