Karen A. MacNeill Burke

Karen A. Burke (originally Karen MacNeill), of Randolph, passed away peacefully Saturday morning on July 1, 2023. She was 73-years-old and despite putting up a very good fight, she succumbed to a cancerous brain tumor known as a glioblastoma. She was surrounded by all her family and grandchildren on her last days. The staff at Laurel Ridge Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain, MA worked tirelessly and excellently to take care of her the last year of her life.

Karen was born in Dorchester, MA to her beloved mother Mary MacNeill (originally Mary Qualter) of Boston and father Donald MacNeill of Boston. Karen was the wife of William J. Burke of Randolph (originally of Braintree) and she was the loving mother to Jeff Burke and his wife, Lucy Burke, of Kingston, MA; Leanne Walker and her husband, Sean Walker, of Piney Flats, TN and Jim Burke and his wife, Melissa Burke, of Holbrook, MA. Their son Michael Burke passed away in the summer of 2021. Michael left behind his longtime friend, Shauna Poirier, and their child, Madison Burke, both of Stoughton, MA.

Karen was also the beloved sister to Jim MacNeill and his wife Ann of Scituate, MA and Charlie MacNeill of Brookline, MA and Claire MacNeill of Randolph, MA. She was the loving grandmother to ten grandchildren: Liam Walker, Aidan Walker, Caitlin Walker and Sean Walker of Piney Flats, TN; Emma Burke and Tommy Burke of Kingston, MA, Madison Burke and Jake Hersey of Stoughton MA; and Derek Fox and Dilynn Fox of Holbrook, MA.

Karen moved to Randolph from Boston when she was 12-years-old. She attended McNeil elementary school and other students would ask her if her father was the principle. She enjoyed riding bicycles in the neighborhood with her older brothers, who were always her protectors. In middle school and high school she became best friends with Barbara Lenahan (originally Barbara Jablonski) and an exciting night for them was driving up and down the street on Nantasket Avenue by Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA while honking the horn. Their friendship would last to the very end.

Karen’s lifelong dream was to be a mother. Some of the happiest times of Karen’s life were in Bavaria, Germany. Her husband William was stationed there for the U.S. Army after a tour in Vietnam and they gave birth to their first child, Jeff, while living abroad. Karen dedicated her life to caring for and raising her family. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years but began working at the Video Store in Randolph and then at the Circulation Department for the Brockton Enterprise. She wanted to be a teacher and acquired her associate’s degree from Bridgewater State (then college) in Bridgewater, MA. However, raising a family took preference to that until later in life when she worked at South Shore Daycare in Randolph, MA and eventually became a Paraprofessional for Randolph Public Schools. Working with special needs children brought her more joy than few other things.

Karen loved being anywhere with her grandchildren. All the grandkids loved the countless hours they spent gathering at Nana Karen’s home, spending time watching movies with her and planning sleepovers at her house and baking cookies. Karen especially loved spending time with her “10 grands” shopping together, particularly if it involved a trip to Cape Cod and treating them to a meal at Bobby Byrnes and shopping at Mashpee Commons in Mashpee, MA. Karen and her grandchildren often would get take out from Gerris’ Pizza in Avon or Lynwood Café in Randolph, MA and spent countless summer days at Barbara Lenahan’s pool.

In lieu of flowers, that family asks to please consider donating to the Randolph High School Special Education Program in Karen’s honor. Please email Jim Burke to arrange this donation at [email protected].

The family welcomes family, friends and all those that knew and loved her for Karen Burke’s Celebration of Life, which will be held at Karen’s Home in Randolph on Saturday, July 8th from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Drop by or stay a while. Please join us and come to share wonderful memories.