Lois Burke was born Lois Jean Hegener in 1940.  She was baptized into the Catholic faith and she made her first communion at Our Lady of Lourdes church in River Rouge, Michigan.  Lois grew up first in River Rouge, and then Lincoln Park, Michigan. 

Lois married in the late 1950’s and had a daughter, Diane, in 1961. Lois loved babies and after Diane’s birth she became a foster mother, providing care for dozens of children needing a home over a number of years.  In the course of being a foster mother in the 1960’s Lois legally adopted three of the babies she cared for: Richard Robert, Linda Marlaine, and Donna Margurite. She and her second husband, Jim Burke, adopted Donna’s biological daughter, Maria Margaritta, in 1995.

Lois left high school without graduating, but after marrying her first husband she went back to school and completed her diploma.  After raising a family, she followed a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. Lois pursued her education once again and graduated with the highest honors from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia with a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree in 1996.  Thereafter she worked as a Registered Nurse first in an assisted living facility and thereafter for Child Care Association of Brevard.  He last job was director of the children’s HIV clinic for the State of Florida’s Children’s Medical Services in Brevard County.

Lois was a prolific porcelain artist as well as a quilter.  She also explored numerous other artistic endeavors including oil painting and jewelry design. She was a member of the Brevard Porcelain Artist’s guild.

Lois Burke was deeply and selflessly devoted to her children and to her husband of 37 years, Jim Burke. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Diane Michelle Sturgeon, her parents, Francis Hegener and Hellen Hegener Becker, and  her brother, Frank Hegener. She is survived by her husband, James Gregory Burke, her children, Richard Robert Jamison, Linda Marlaine Musser, Donna Margurite Jamison, and Maria Margurite Burke, grandson Gregory James Musser, sisters Carol Lacasse and Julaine Queisi, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.