Barbara J. Burke

Barbara J. Burke

80, of West Alexandria, formerly of Brewster and Worcester, Massachusetts, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2026.

She was born January 17, 1946, in Urbana, Illinois, to the late Selmer and Laura (Selby) Johnson.

In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded to eternal life by her beloved husband, Paul F. Burke. She was also preceded by her sister-in-law, Paul’s sister Judy Jensen.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Tom Cahalan; grandchildren, Cathy, Dan, Paul and Alice; siblings, Ginny (m. Ira Blitz), Kathy (m. Mike Klinefelter), and Chuck (m. Carol Johnson); brother-in-law, Bud Jensen; and nieces and nephews, Matthew, Daniel, Kristin, Colleen, and Suzi.

Barbara primarily grew up in Pacific Palisades, California, where her family moved when her father began conducting mathematical research for the RAND Corporation. She remembered visiting him at his workplace, where she was able to walk inside a computer the size of a room. From her mother, Barbara received a love of books and art. Although she moved away from California, Barbara cherished opportunities to visit with her family there.

During an undergraduate study-abroad program, Barbara met the love of her life: Paul. She was studying at Scripps College; he was at Stanford. They met in Rome, Italy. The two discovered they shared a passion for classical literature and archaeological sites. They both received advanced degrees in Classics. On the occasion of their marriage, in 1969, Paul’s mother offered a generous, but practical, gift: a car. The newlyweds took her up on the offer, but stretched its definition; they crossed the Atlantic and purchased a VW camper van they used to travel around Europe and the Balkans. They later lived in Rome for a period. They developed a long relationship with the Vergilian Society; Paul, with significant support from Barbara, led summer tour groups out of the Villa Vergiliana, near the Bay of Naples.

Sarah was so lucky to have these two oddballs for parents. They taught her to love the natural world, books, visual art, and music. Due to her liberal arts education, Barbara could correctly answer whole categories of question on Jeopardy!; it was fun to watch the show with her.

In addition to her love for museums, art galleries, historic sites, and old churches, Barbara was a gifted artist in her own right. She worked in watercolor and pastels. She also shared with Paul a hobby of photography. They would lug tripods, film, and multiple cameras along on trips or hikes, then develop photos in a basement darkroom. Later, she encouraged artistic talents in her grandchildren by doodling together for hours at the dining table. She lived with Sarah and Tom’s family for almost eight years, during which time she suffered numerous health problems, including chronic pain. But those years together were formative for her grandkids; they would always play with her if they could, but would be perfectly happy to play around her if she needed to nap or elevate her legs.

Above all, Barbara treasured those grandchildren. She delighted in their curiosity. They loved reading books with her and bringing nature treasures to show her.

Barbara will be interred alongside her husband in Brewster, Massachusetts. Services will be held at a later date. Although Barbara was not particularly religious later in life, on April 10 she nodded “yes” when asked if she believed in Jesus.