Mary Grace (Betsy) Burke (Nov. 29, 1917 to Sept. 15, 2016)
Preceded in death by her parents, August and Sophie (Aiello) Campagna; husband Clarence E. Burke; siblings Kelly, Merle, Louis and Guido Campagna, Pearl Sinkovich and Mabel Erickson.
Survived by her children Patricia Goginsky (John), Ed Burke (Bonita), Donna Tarzian (Harry), Clair Burke (wife Jean deceased) and Jackie Sywensky (Steve). Her life was enriched by 16 grandchildren, 18 great- grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She was very close to her many nieces, nephews and family friends. In fact, she never met a stranger, always willing to smile and chat.
Throughout her life she experienced many adventures: at age 6, she watched as a planned KKK rally was driven out of her small town of Lilly, Pa.; at age 7 her mother died and her Italian immigrant father struggled but succeeded in keeping his seven children together as a family; to help with the family income she cleaned houses for 10 cents per week; although her father objected, she continued her education, winning many academic awards, studying in secret and becoming the salutatorian of her graduating class in 1935; she was determined to go to college, writing many letters; but could not find one that would accept someone with no money; after her marriage in 1936, she worked at many different jobs to help support her family; in the early 1940s she ran for school board, which was opposed because she was a female; after the family moved from Lilly to State College, Pa., in the 1950s, she put her secretarial skills to use with a job at Penn State, finally accomplishing her dream of attending college classes at the age of 40. Besides spending time with her large family and many friends, she enjoyed cooking huge family meals, telling stories to her grandchildren, reading volumes of magazines, bingo, lottery, camping & fishing, crochet, traveling and celebrating Christmas, but mostly she loved to laugh!
Friends and family will be received 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Friday, September 23, 2016, at the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Services, 1034 Benner Pike, State College. The funeral service will immediately follow at 4:00pm. Interment will take place at Centre County Memorial Park, State College.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can me made to a charity of your choice.
An online guestbook can be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com