METHUEN - Ann E. "Betty" (Reynolds) Burke, 89, longtime resident of Methuen, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, April 25, 2013 at the Hannah Duston Healthcare Center, Haverhill.

Mrs. Burke was born in Haverhill on June 21, 1923, daughter of the late Arthur J. and Julia A. (Sullivan) Reynolds. Raised in Haverhill, she attended St. James Grammar School and St. James High School.

Betty was the loving wife of the late George J. Burke, Sr. who passed away in 2003. After marriage in 1947, they moved to Lawrence for a period of time and eventually settled in Methuen to raise their family.

Mrs. Burke was employed for several years for the Internal Revenue Service's Andover Office and after her children were raised, worked as a teacher's aide in Methuen Public Schools. Betty was very involved with the Ashford School PTA and volunteered during elections to help staff the polling stations in Methuen. She enjoyed activities with the 4-H Youth Development Program and the Campfire Girls. Some of her hobbies include arts and crafts, as well as sewing. Being a devout Catholic she was a longtime parishioner of St. Lucy Parish, Methuen. Most of all, Mrs. Burke was a loving and caring woman who held a special place in her heart for her family, especially her grand and great-grandchildren.

The Burke Family would like to take an opportunity to thank the staff of the Hannah Duston Healthcare Center as well as the people of Fidelis Hospice of Haverhill for the love and support they have shown Mrs. Burke.

Her surviving family members include her cherished children, George Burke, Jr. and his wife Linda of Methuen, Arthur Burke and his wife Betty of Londonderry, NH, Michael Burke of Haverhill, Lisbeth Fitzgerald of Washington, Joseph Burke of Methuen, Shaun Burke and his wife Louise of CA, Patrice Friant and her companion Robert Kruk of FL, Colleen Papaefthemiou and her husband Christos of Haverhill, and Cathleen Burke of Methuen; sister, Maureen Desmond and her husband William of Groveland; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; predeceased family members include her sons, Kerin Burke and Christopher Burke; brother, John Reynolds; son-in-law Patrick Fitzgerald.

Funeral Services will be held, Monday morning, April 29, beginning in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 So. Main Street (Rte. 125), Bradford at 9:45 AM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Lucy Church, 254 Merrimack Street (Rte. 110), Methuen at 11:00 AM. Interment will be privately held in the Burke family lot in St. James Cemetery, Haverhill. Visiting hours will be Sunday in the Driscoll Funeral Home from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Courtesy local transportation to the visitation will be provided on request by calling Patrick Driscoll at 978-374-0000. Contributions in Betty's memory may be made to The Sisters of St. Joseph c/o Bethany Healthcare Center, 97 Bethany Rd., Framingham, MA 01702 or The Jimmy Fund c/o Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 or online at www.jimmyfund.org / For directions and online guestbook, please visit www.driscollcares.com