Ellen K. (Kelley) Burke White

Ellen Kelley Burke White passed away suddenly at 87 years young on Thursday, January 19th with family by her side. Cherished mother to Kevin & Mimi Burke, Chip & Kathy Burke, Brian & Lisa Burke, Greg Burke, Ted & Sharon Burke, Terry Burke and Tim & Joy Burke; adored grandmother to Ryan, Khaki (Alix), Kelley (Michael Baine), Courtney, Molly (Chris Lemming), Cassie (Wes Mabee), C.J., Patrick, Jack, Aidan, Zarra, Quinn and great-grandmother to Charlie (Lemming); and beloved step-mother to Karl, Alfred Jr., John, Gerard, Therese, Chris, Kurt and Julia Peters. Ellen grew up in Newton and Scituate, MA , the daughter of Oliver G. & Katherine (Ryan) Kelley and sister of the late Biff Kelley, sister-in-law of Patricia, loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews and a cherished friend to many. She graduated from Sacred Heart Country Day School and Manhattanville College ’51 and was a lifelong member of Scituate Harbor Yacht Club. Ellen truly lived an amazing life, growing up beside the Scituate U.S. Coast Guard station during the war, mastering ice and roller skating at an early age, winning Jr. Sailing Championships, taking in Braves & Yankee games with her father, seeing Don Larsen pitch his perfect game, throwing amazing Easter and July 4th parties for hundreds, never missing a BC or Harvard football or hockey game, building backyard hockey rinks and miniature golf courses not only for her kids but the entire neighborhood, being the first to welcome her cousin by marriage, President Kennedy, to the White House, driving her kids to countless hockey, little league, tennis, sailing and swimming events, learning to windsurf in her 60’s, winning a skiing medal on her 70th birthday and watching her children and grandchildren play sports in college as they won a Beanpot & an NCAA Championship. She loved her children, grandchildren and step-children, teaching two generations to skate, ski, windsurf, deep sea fish, dig clams, cook amazing turkey dinners and make Mary Duffy's legendary Hot Fudge Sauce. Ellen instilled in all her love of people, Catholic faith, education, sports, Surfside Rd, the ocean, flowers, storytelling, Christmas, dogs (Skippy, Rex, Murphy, Samantha, Trooper, Emma, Henry), entertaining, hockey, Notre Dame and all Boston sports teams. She will be remembered as a beautiful (could look like the gardener at 7pm and Grace Kelley at 8pm!), selfless, incredibly generous, classy, hardworking, creative, positive, smart, funny lady (and handyman) who was happiest doing things for others and watching her children and grandchildren succeed. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ignatius in Chestnut Hill on Saturday, February 4th at 11 AM. A Memorial Service celebrating Ellen’s magical life will be held in Scituate, MA this coming summer; date TBD. In lieu of flowers, please share your favorite stories/pictures with the family and please consider a donation to a favorite charity.

 Service Information