Gabriel Burkart

Gabriel A. Burkart, age 97, of Justine Court, East Greenbush, NY died Monday June 5, 2017 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Albany on December 19,1919 at the Brady Maternal Hospital and was a life long resident of the Capital District. She wintered in Vero Beach with her late husband and spent many wonderful years as a snowbird where she had many friends. She was a graduate of Vincentian Institute in Albany, Class of 1937. Following graduation she worked for New York State as a keypunch operator prior to joining her husband at D & B Acoustical Corp. a company founded by her late husband, where she served as its office manager until her retirement in 1988. She was a Founding and Honorary Life Member of the Albany Council #173 of the Columbiettes ; a member of the ladies hospital auxiliary at the Vero Beach Hospital in Florida, and member of the Evergreen Country Club in Castleton, NY. Gabriel was a communicant of St. Michael the Archangel Church in North Greenbush. She enjoyed traveling with her late husband and various family members; was an avid and accomplished golfer and bowler both of which she did into her early 90's. In addition she enjoyed her gardening; ceramics; and had a life long interest in reading and enjoyed reading books on her Kindle up until a few a weeks ago. She loved spending time with her extensive family and kept in touch with them on Face Book and e- mail social media having become computer literate in her mid 80's. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ernest D Burkart Sr., who she married in the Grotto of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany on August 23, 1941. They were a devoted couple and best friends until his death in 2004. She is survived by a large family. Her children: Peter T. [Patricia] Burkart MD of Averill Park; Katherine [John] Feiden of Minerva; Christina PhD [LTC[R]Nick] Laiacona of Bolton Landing; Ernest D. [Connie] Burkart Jr. of Averill Park; John J. [Kristina] Burkart Sr. of Averill Park, NY; and Susan Burkart - Jayez, DNP of Delmar. Grandmother of Kimberly A.[Thomas] Fallon, CPA; Kristin M. Burkart, MD; Michele R.[Michael] Krenicky, RN; John J.[TJ], Daniel, Kathy[David LaPelle] and Melissa Feiden; Nicholas C.[Sheri Edgecomb]., Michael S.[Wendy] and Matthew T.[Patricia] Laiacona; Ernest D. III[Lisa] and Laura Burkart; Thomas[Katie], John Jr.[Natalia], Grace Burkart and Rebecca [Brian]Sullivan; David[Carol] Jayez. Great-grandmother of Kelly, Michael, and Thomas Fallon; Michael, and Christopher Krenicky; John [Jay], Taylor, Brandon, Emma, Feiden; Ezra, Jacob, Sofia Jane, Julia Marie, Mike, and Madeleine Rose Laiacona; Elizabeth Burkart; Olivia, Lucas, and Mila Burkart. She was predeceased by her parents Michael and Katherine [Morrissey] Beck; a brother Michael [Sonny] Beck and 2 sisters: Aileen Merkle and Sister Rita Beck, CSJ. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews and she was especially close to Gay and Bill Hoffman of Port Charlotte, Florida. Funeral from the W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Avenue, Rensselaer, Friday morning at 9:00 and 10:00 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in North Greenbush where the Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be offered. Relatives and friends may call at the funereal home on Thursday from 4-7. Interment will be at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. The family would like to especially thank her physician - Dr. Mary Ellen Drislane, who was always there for her, providing excellent and compassionate care; The Community Hospice Program; and to the staff on D4East at the Albany Medical Center for their compassion and care during a most difficult time. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph CSJ, Development Office, 385 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110, or Michael the Archangel Church, 175 Williams Road, Troy, NY 12180.