ISLESBORO — Mary Meredith “Maddie” Burke, 84, of Islesboro died on September 27 mercifully ending her recent health struggles.

Maddie was born April 5, 1940 in New York City, the daughter of the late Montgomery and May Hare of Cornwall Connecticut. She graduated high school from Concord Academy and went on to attend Traphagen school of Fashion Design in NYC.

Maddie married Roger Burke on October 22, 1960, in Cornwall Connecticut, beginning her life's greatest adventure. They were devoted to each other for 64 years and had three children, six grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Maddie worked in the home in Ipswich, Massachusetts until her children were grown, volunteering in civic and arts organizations in her community. She later attended Monserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in graphic design.

Maddie was a creative soul and artist starting with her love of fashion design and sewing, making clothes for her children, decorating the home for her family and later in her life, creating beautiful designs through her fabric art. She was a supporter of the arts including The Peabody Essex Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and The Abbey Rockefeller Museum of Folk Art. She was an accomplished member of the Bell Choir at Old South Church in Boston and a regular member of a baroque recorder quartet. She was a tremendous cook and baker creating anticipation every summer for the first fruit pie of the season. She instilled a love of cooking and baking in her children and grandchildren, sharing her expertise and love.

Maddie was a member of Old South Church in Boston and also First Congregational Church in Camden. She centered God in her life which was instrumental in her 40 years of sobriety.

Maddie was a sailor and together with her husband Roger had many adventures on the sea. She was also a world traveler. She and Roger traveled extensively making friends all over the world and collecting art from the local artists they found. She especially loved England and returned many times over the years forming numerous close friendships. Despite travelling to many beautiful places, no place in the world was more special to Maddie than Islesboro Maine where she and Roger retired years ago to live in the beauty of her beloved Island, welcoming numerous friends and loving family over the years.

Remaining to cherish Maddie's memory are husband Roger; daughters Lydia Radzinski of Englewood, Florida, and Deirdre Fox of New Haven Connecticut; and son David Burke and his wife Emily of Beacon New York; grandchildren Tasha, Erik, Jake, Sam, Margot and Lila; great-grandchildren PJ and Grace; sister Connie Hare and brother Rob Hare.

Remembrance services will be held October 5, at 12 p.m., at First Congregational Church UCC, 55 Elm Street, Camden in Camden with the Rev. Dr. Ute Molitor officiating, followed by lunch at the church.

A celebration of Maddie will be held at a later date in Ipswich, Massachusetts where she lived and raised a family for 54 years.

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Memorial donations in Maddie's memory may be directed to Ways to Give | ICC https://www.islesborocommunitycenter.org/. 

Condolences may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.