Shirley Burke

On March 29, 2017, Shirley Burke passed away peacefully in the company of her family.

Born Shirley Sikol on January 23, 1927 in San Francisco, California, to George Sikol, a native of Kotor, Montenegro and Edith Sikol (nee’ Garbini) of San Francisco. She was raised in the Marina District and attended Winfield Scott Elementary School, Marina Junior High School, Galileo High School (Class of 1945), and City College of San Francisco. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in 1949 and was the first person in her family to attend and graduate from college.

Upon graduation Shirley was hired to teach girl’s physical education at Francisco Junior High School. She was extraordinarily proud of having taught hundreds of students, many of whom had no previous experience to become proficient swimmers. Shirley remained at Francisco until 1979 when she moved to Woodrow Wilson High School where she concluded her career with the San Francisco Unified School District in 1985 teaching business education and typing.

In the early 1950’s Shirley married Bernard Burke, the love of her life, started a family and moved to Mill Valley. In retirement she remained active and fiercely independent residing in the home that they built until stricken by cancer in August 2016. She loved to bake, garden and most of all, play Bingo.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Bernard and is survived by her son Terrence Burke of Mill Valley, and nephew Patrick Burke of Bellevue, Washington.

Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 3 Oakdale Ave, Mill Valley at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Arthritis National Relief Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St NE, Suite 600 Atlanta, GA 30309. Online condolences at Adobe Creek Funeral Home.com 707-789-9000