William F. Burke

Beloved brother and uncle;

William F. “Bill” Burke, 86, of Saugus, Massachusetts, but formerly of Lowell, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 17, 2025, at Saugus Rehab and Nursing.

Born in Lowell, MA, on August 10, 1939, the son of the late James E. and the late Eileen M. (James) Burke, he attended Lowell schools and graduated from Lowell High School in the class of 1958.

In 1965, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country during the Vietnam War on the USS Independence. He received the National Defense Service Medal for his service and transferred to the Naval Reserve in 1969.

Before retirement, Bill worked as a shipper/receiver and expediter for BAE Systems, formerly Sanders Associates, in Nashua, NH, for over 40 years.

In his spare time, he enjoyed doing things for other people, volunteering and raising money for different organizations and collecting teddy bears for Boston Children's Hospital

Bill is survived by two brothers, Robert Burke and his wife Elizabeth of Bradford, MA, and Joseph Burke and his wife Connie of Cambridge, MA; three sisters, Arline Burke and her partner Ellie Poitras of Nashua, NH, Susan Desruisseaux of Lowell, MA, and Patricia Burke of Lowell, MA; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

He was the brother of the late James E. Burke, Jr., and Mary Kiernan.

Family and friends are invited to his Memorial Funeral Mass to be celebrated on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at ST. RITA’S CHURCH in LOWELL at 11:00 AM. Burial will be private. E-condolences and directions are available at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing to make contributions in Bill’s memory may do so to the Karen Kiernan Memorial Scholarship Fund. Make checks payable to Patricia Talty, 16669 Wellington Lakes Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908 with a notation for the Karen Kiernan Scholarship Fund.  Arrangements by the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME - LOWELL - MA - (978) 458-8768.  

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