Sister Noreen Burke, 95, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, MN, died at Assisi Heights on Sunday, November 8, 2009.

Lucy Monica Burke was born to William and Agnes (Gallagher) Burke on June 7, 1914, in Waldorf, Minnesota. Lucy, the third oldest of seven children, grew up on a farm near Waldorf, fourteen miles south of Janesville, MN. She entered the Sisters of Saint Francis in 1932 from St. Ann’s Parish, Janesville, and made profession of vows in 1957.

Sister Noreen began her ministry as an elementary teacher at Holy Redeemer School in Portsmouth, Ohio, where she taught for nine years. Thus followed thirty one more years of teaching in the Minnesota towns of Fairmont, Winona, Rochester, St. James, Currie, Johnsburg, North Saint Paul and Austin, Watertown, South Dakota, and Chicago, IL.

Sister received her B.A. Degree in History from the College of St. Teresa in 1949 and returned there to further her studies from 1971 to 1973, after which she spent a summer at Colegio Santa Francisca Romana in Bogotá, Colombia. In 1977, Sister Noreen returned to Winona and the College of St. Teresa where she ministered as Archivist. In August 1986, she served as a parish volunteer at Sacred Heart Parish, Waseca, MN. From 1987 to 2002, she ministered as a volunteer and patient visitor at Saint Marys Hospital. She retired to Assisi Heights in 2002.

Sister Noreen is survived by her Franciscan Congregation with whom she shared life for seventy-seven years; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2009, at 11:00 o’clock in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Assisi Heights, Rochester. Friends may call at Assisi Heights for the Vigil Service at 6:30p.m. Friday, November 13 and before the time of the service on Saturday.

Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Benefactor Relations at Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW – Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55901.