Obituary of Cecilia J. MacNish Burke

Cecilia J. Murray MacNish Burke, 94, of Point Pleasant, passed away, Saturday, July 16, 2016 at Ocean Medical Center, Brick. Born in Kearny, to the late Martin and Alice Murray, she lived there and attended Kearny High School. Cely also worked at Hyatt's Factory. She moved to Newark after marrying her first husband, Edward V. MacNish, a motorcycle patrolman with the Newark Police Department. She worked as a nurse's aide at Columbus Hospital in Newark for several years. Edward passed away in 1966, and Cely met her future husband, John P. Burke, two years later. They moved to Point Pleasant Beach in 1969 and owned and operated the White Sands Motel from 1969 to 1984. Cely also volunteered at Point Pleasant Hospital. For many years, Cely and John wintered in St. Augustine, FLA. Cely and John enjoyed traveling and visited Europe several times. When John passed away in 1989, Cely moved to Princeton Commons in Brick and belonged to the Women's Bowling League and was very proud to have bowled two 200 games. Cely was also a member of the Rosarians at St. Martha's Church in Brick. For the past sixteen years she lived with her daughter Patricia in Point Pleasant. When Cely's only son, Edward V. MacNish Jr. passed away in 2012, she remained active and visited the Brick Township Nutrition Site in Brick three days a week. She met many new friends there and always looked forward to attending their activities. Cely was a voracious reader and it was not unusual to see Cely reading three books at a time. She was very artistic and took several painting classes during her lifetime. Cely also enjoyed decorating and gardening. A fierce animal lover, Cely always had either a cat or dog in all of her homes, usually both. She was predeceased by her first husband, Edward V. MacNish; her second husband, John P. Burke; and her son, Edward V. MacNish, Sr. Surviving are two daughters, Patricia MacNish Caldwell of Point Pleasant and Doreen MacNish of Lakewood. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Edward V. MacNish, Jr., of Toms River; Brent Caldwell of Oceanport, and Scott Caldwell of Point Pleasant; her great-granddaughter, Ava of Avon; and daughter in law, Rose MacNish of Whiting. Visitation will be from 4 – 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 19 at the Pable Evertz Funeral Home of Point Pleasant, 901 Beaver Dam Road. At 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 20 a Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at Saint Peter Church, Point Pleasant Beach. Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations made in her memory to the Jersey Shore Animal Center www.jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org or to Popcorn Park Zoo www.ahscares.org would be appreciated. For condolences to the family visit www.pableevertzfuneralhome.com