John E. Burke

John Edward Burke, 84, passed away peacefully under hospice care at AdviniaCare BayPointe in Brockton on Sunday, February 9, 2025.  John was born in Boston in 1940, the 11th of 14 children born to Patrick and Margaret Burke of Brighton. He grew up in a traditional Irish Catholic family of faith. He loved numbers and figures and took pride in both his swift mathematical abilities and his penchant for remembering his many siblings’ and family members’ birthdays and anniversaries. He played ice hockey with friends, served his country in the US Navy and after graduating from Northeastern University, began a lifelong career working as a computer programmer, ultimately with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, where he worked until his retirement in 2009.

John met and married the love of his life Jeanette “Jeanie” (LaRosa) in 1968 and together they raised two children, first in Quincy and later in Brockton. They remained married for 48 years until Jeanie’s death in 2016. They were lovingly referred to as “Mimi and Pepe” by their granddaughters.

John sang in the church choir and together with Jeanie, served on the parent guild at the former Sacred Heart Parish and School in Brockton, one year even serving as Guild Presidents.

John loved a good (or bad) joke and was a dreamer - and a stubborn Irishman. He enjoyed dining out, scratch tickets, playing Keno and was an eternal optimist, always hoping for that big lottery win.

A lifelong sports fan, John enjoyed watching the Red Sox, Patriots and Boston Bruins, attending many games as a child with his sister, Mary. His love of all things Irish extended to rooting for his favorite collegiate football team, Notre Dame Fighting Irish. John also enjoyed attending many BC Eagles football games as a spectator with friends in his retirement years.

In his final months John was a hospice resident of AdviniaCare BayPointe Nursing Home in Brockton and to the very end, even through dementia and cancer, he only talked lovingly and repeatedly about his wife and his family - asking for his brothers and sisters and thinking of home.

John was predeceased by his wife Jeanie; and until his own death, was the last surviving member of his family of 14 siblings. He was predeceased by his brothers - William, James, Thomas, Joseph and Gerald; and his sisters - Mary, Catherine, Patricia, Margaret, Barbara, Rosemary, Ann Joachim and Claire. He is survived by his daughter Ann Marie Locke and son Patrick Burke, both of Brockton; granddaughters Shannon Locke and Kelly Locke, both of Boston, and many nieces and nephews.

In true form, John opted for an Irish exit and did not wish for funeral services. He is loved and missed and his family takes comfort in knowing he is finally reunited with his wife, his parents and his brothers and sisters, who have all been waiting patiently to help him cross into eternal rest.

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