Barbara Ann Burke's Obituary
Barbara Ann Espey Burke, born November 16, 1934, went to be with the Lord and her children Donna and Michael on January 11, 2023.
Barbara was born in Memphis, TN where she attended Tech High School. She met and married Don Schlemmer and had two children before she was widowed at an early age. She then met Terry Burke and together they had Patrick who was the apple of her eye. Barbara and Terry owned and operated Balmoral, Mt. Moriah, and Kirby Parkway Cleaners for over 45 years. Her passion was visiting with her customers – always putting a personal and convivial touch on what most would consider a mundane task. Make no mistake, however. If you crossed Barb she wouldn’t have any problem telling you to find another cleaners! Her biggest daily conundrum was deciding which outfit to don and which jewelry to wear.
She was a tough woman and fiercely loyal friend. She forged on after the death of her two oldest children, survived breast cancer, quarantine, and subsequently the closing of her lifelong business. Her grandchildren were her life and light.
She is survived by her husband Terry of 54 years, her son Patrick and his wife Dorothy; her daughter in law Rosa Schlemmer and her grandchildren Patrick and Sims Burke and Carlos Miguelito Schlemmer.
A brief visitation will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 18th, followed by a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m., The family requests memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
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