Obituary of Helen F. Burke

Helen F. Burke (Cecilia) formerly of Maple Road Westvale, died June 21, 2025. Helen was the daughter of Michael J. and Florence M. Burke of Westvale. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, Thomas J. Burke of Colorado Springs, and sister, Mary Keefe of Rochester, NY.

Helen graduated from Solvay High School and the College of St. Rose, Albany and was a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet (Sister Cecilia Michael) for 24 years, serving the Community and the church as a missionary to Peru for 19 years, 15 of which she was Principal of the "Colegio Santa Rosa de Lima", Chimbote, Peru.

Upon returning from Peru in 1982, she worked for Goldman Sachs in Corporate Finance. Helen was also an LPN and worked at Community Hospital, Medical Registry of CNY and Loretto. When she returned from NYC she taught Spanish at BOCES and advanced conversational Spanish to professionals. She translated for St. Joseph's Westside Clinic and the Onondaga County Dept of Aging and Youth.

Helen enjoyed traveling and had visited and studied in 26 countries, from Japan to Greece. She was a member of Holy Family Church, Fairmount and their Perpetual Adoration Society.

She is survived by 10 nieces and nephews, 13 great nieces and nephews, 13 great great nieces and nephews and many friends from her former religious community, friends in Syracuse, and former students and teachers in Chimbote, Peru.

At Helen's request there will be no calling hours and private burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, DeWitt. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.