Judith Walter Burke

Judith Walter-Burke

10/4/1951 – 01/31/2015

Judith Patrice Walter-Burke, 63, of Napa, from the loving comfort of her home, surrounded by family, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on January 31, 2015.

Judie began her adventures upon this Earth on October 4, 1951 with her loving parents Leonard and Georgena Walter in Abington, PA. Growing up in Hatboro, PA, Judie chose to attend Millersville State College and graduated with a degree in Geography. From there, she was off on the first of many adventures.

Judie set out on a 6-month backpacking adventure in Europe. After broadening her culture and horizons, she returned to the States and joined the VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) program. It was her charitable work and the hands of destiny that brought her to Oakland, CA, in 1976, where, the following year, she met the love of her life--Pat Burke.

Judie and Pat were married on November 24, 1978, in Berkeley, CA. From then on he was her partner in many more adventures, including earning her MBA from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA. Married nearly a decade, their union brought about Judie’s other love of her life--their daughter Erin.

Relocating to the Napa Valley, Judie was a beloved mother, wife, and member of the community. Judie was employed at Napa Valley College for 25 years and retired as the Dean of Research,Planning and Institutional Effectiveness.

On June 6th, 2003 Judie was first diagnosed with breast cancer. After several surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments her cancer went into remission.

In June of 2011, she was re-diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in her bones and liver. She endured multiple rounds of radiation and chemotherapy treatments until December of 2014.

Judie never saw her cancer as a battle, but as a journey of life, with God walking by her side, leading her along.

Judie maintained her indomitable need for adventure, and with maps in hand, she lead Pat and Erin on the trips of their lifetimes, exploring the world and celebrating the love of one-another.

Judie is survived by her husband Pat, daughter Erin, sister JaneSuman (Art), mother in law Patricia Burke, sister in law’s SusanChaconas(Dennis), Cynthia Gianinni(Frank) and Ann Vance (Jim). She also had numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and abundant friends.

Services will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015,11AM at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1917 3rdStreet, Napa, CA. A reception will follow at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel and Spa, 3425 Solano Ave, Napa, CA

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you donate in Judie’s memory to the Napa Valley College Foundation in support of the James M. Booth Scholarship for students pursuing a degree in computer studies at the college: NVCF, 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Napa, CA  94558

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