BURKE, Dorothy Lee McDonnell

“Dot” was born on April 5, 1924, in Louisville, Kentucky. She died in peace at the age of 93, on September 17, 2017.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Edward Burke, her daughter Kathy Jarboe, and her brother, James McDonnell.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Toombs, and Pat’s husband Mark; her daughter Laurie Harpring, and Laurie’s husband, Kevin; and Kathy’s husband, Taylor.

Dot was a graduate of St. Agnes, class of 1937, and graduated from Nazareth Academy in Bardstown in 1941. She and Bob married on May 10, 1947, at St. Agnes and were lifetime members of the parish.

She has six grandchildren: Emily Jarboe (husband Matt), Sarah Jarboe (husband Brian), Meghan Boyd (husband Dustin), Brian Toombs (wife Maggie), Robert Harpring (wife Nichole), and KC Harpring.

She has nine great grandchildren: Norah, Ben, and Nicholas Wulkopf; Henry and Otis Schreck; Elliot, Oliver, and Stuart Boyd; and Zelda Toombs.

Dot had a wit that was strong, even during difficult times. She was quick to laugh, with a grand, sometimes self-deprecating sense of humor. She was a loving wife to her husband, Bob. She had wonderful friends and was a wonderful friend. She was filled with Irish spirit and strong convictions. As she got older, we knew and loved her as the “feisty little old lady.”

Dot lived during a time when it was ordinary to be an extraordinary mom. For Kathy, Pat, and Laurie, she was simply the best. She taught them the importance of family, and more importantly, how to be a mom.

Thanks, Mom, for all you said and did, and for being the best mom ever.

She leaves us with this eternal prayer:

And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

The family will hold a private visitation and service on Saturday, October 7. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the YMCA Safe Place Services of Louisville.

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