Patricia Ann Burke

patricia burke
Patricia Ann “Patti” Burke passed away at home on Monday, April 5, 2021. She was 72.

Patti was one of five, born in New York to Robert Burke Sr. and Cecelia (O’Rourke) Burke. Growing up, her father’s job moved the family often, from Kansas City to Memphis, Chicago, and eventually the Washington DC area. She attended the Maryview School of Nursing, and then joined the first class of women at the University of Virginia.

After UVA, she obtained her Masters in Nursing from Stony Brook University, one of her many nursing specializations. For Patti, nursing wasn’t just a job, it was part of who she was. She was constantly learning, mentoring others and doing everything possible to ensure Veterans had the care and community they deserved. One of her proudest accomplishments was the transformation of the Northport VA’s long-term care program, which received national recognition and had impacts far beyond her local hospital. She retired as Chief Nurse of the Northport VAMC in 2018.

Patti loved her adopted hometown, Northport, on the North Shore of Long Island. It was by the beach, her favorite place, and where she had her daughter McKaela in 1982. In 1989, she was diagnosed with throat cancer. Determined to see her daughter grow, she began a decades-long battle. Along the way, her vocal chords were sacrificed, and in some ways, the dimming of her voice created a force of nature no one will forget.

Patti was a listener, but when she talked, everyone listened. She chose her words carefully, and she was direct. Kind, empathetic, generous, full of faith, and fiercely loyal to her big Irish family and the cherished friends she collected everywhere she went. Although petite, her presence was massive. Her holiday parties were legendary. Her perfect outfits, enviable. Her sun-worshipping, inescapable. She was authentic and unapologetic. She rolled her eyes if she didn’t agree, scoffed at you if dared to challenge her, and refused to acknowledge anything wrong with her driving habits (a bit too fast), her arrival times (a touch too late), or her SPF choice (none).

Most of all, Patti was an iconic mom. She found the elusive balance between being the parent and the friend. You didn’t know her without knowing her daughter. If she found something good, she always bought two. She was proud of her career and accomplished so much, but nothing made her life more complete than her girl McKaela. Her pride and love for her daughter, and then her three grandkids, fueled every fight for another day.

Patti saved lives and changed lives. She is survived by her best friend and daughter McKaela Burke (Moran) Doherty, her son-in-law Patrick Doherty, her grandchildren Declan, Mairead and Cian Doherty, her sisters Kathleen Burke Rhodes and Therese L. Burke, sisters-in-law Rosemary Burke and Therese C. Burke, nieces and nephews, and more friends than one can count. She is preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Robert Burke, Jr., and Michael Burke Sr.

If you would like to make a donation, please consider one of Patti’s favorites: Food for Others or American Cancer Society. If you’d like to share a special memory about Patti with her daughter and grandchildren, please send to RememberingPattiBurke@gmail.com.

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  1. I’m so sorry for your loss. I joined HVH VA 4/2012 and Patti was our Director of Nursing Service. She was a real matter of fact chief and she always was so nice and inspiring to me. I’m so glad to have known her. Thank you Michele J.

  2. Dear McKaela and Patrick and the whole family, what a beautiful obituary and picture of Patti. It captured her spirit to a T. Patti, will miss seeing you at all the Palumbo celebrations, trips to CA and just sitting with you and talking. We met you 31 years ago and you have been in our hearts ever since. McKaela and Patrick wish we could be with you at this terrible time of grieving, but we must always remember Patti as the fierce and gutsy fighter she was. We love you Patti and your whole family. You will remain in our prayers forever. May the peace of God be with you forever more. Love and God Bless. Elaine & Tony Palumbo

  3. I mentored under Patty during my RN rotation with Stony Brook University. I so admired her talent and perseverance and dedication to the VA. She had the strength of a tiger in the body of a kitten. But also ready to party at a moments notice. Patty was an exceptional woman and human being. Loving thoughts…Diane McGuire

  4. Pattie was always kind to me in high school. We had a great time together. Beverly Gannon Snazelle

  5. As a fellow nurse executive with Patti in VA, I always admired her perseverance and brilliantly analytical and thoughtful mind. Her voice may have been challenged but her words were heard loudly as she shared her wisdom. She lived life large and with sincere love. My thoughts and prayers are with all who loved her and whose lives she touched. Dave Przestrzelski

  6. It is with deep sadness, that I learned of Patti’s passing. I was in her high school class, and remember her well. Sending prayers for her and for all of her family. Patricia Wiemann Thompson

  7. I first met Patti Burke when I started at Northport VAMC in 1992. She was the nursing supervisor in the ER. As a nurse practitioner, I worked with Patti. She was amazingly devoted to the veterans , to their care and to the employees who worked alongside her. She was always moving and involved. And a tremendous support professionally and personally. Over the years we remained colleagues and friends. And her devotion to nursing, her expertise in the field and her loyalty have been a guiding light. I will miss her effervescent presence. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and circle of friends. Barbara Feldman

  8. I worked with Patti Burke at Northport VAMC. She was committed to excellence in Nursing and set high standards for those around her. She was very supportive to me and I respected her as a dedicated Nursing leader who worked to improve the care of our Veterans. She was steadfast in her commitment to the Veterans and to Nursing. My deepest condolences to her family. Ginny Smith

  9. Pattie was inspirational, kind and had spunk she will be missed and will be loved by many .

  10. Dear Mckaela and family, We are so saddened to hear of the loss of your Mom. She was an amazing person, not only in her work ,which is to be so admired, but also for her strength and courage. We will always remember that beautiful smile and her dancing at our wedding with her father …that was a treat! She leaves behind a tremendous legacy with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. We hope you find comfort in knowing how much she was loved and how much she loved you all. With our heartfelt sympathies, Lucy and Tony Graz

  11. Hi McKaela, so sorry to hear about Patti, especially so long after her passing, we had lost touch a bit after we last met up in Northport, I think back in 2016. Patti was a cherished friend, we met at Northport VA Hospital when I was an intern in the 1970s. She was just too cool, driving to work in her Triumph sports car. Patti was one of the best nurses that I have ever met, but beyond that an amazing character, full of life and spirit, a beautiful soul. I will miss her, but I will always remember the good times back on Long Island. Tom Karl

  12. For some reason I thought about Patti and came to find out she passed. Remembering her as a very direct and determined person.


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