She was born in Ticonderoga on Oct. 1, 1906, the daughter of Thomas Francis and Mary O'Hearn Cunningham.
After grammar school in Ticonderoga, she attended Sherman Park Seminary in Port Henry in 1918 from which she graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1924.
She was employed in her father's pharmacy until her marriage to Henry Gordon Burleigh III on Feb. 13, 1928, when she took up residence at the Burleigh family home on Champlain Avenue.
Gordon and Evelyn raised a family of nine children, the late H. Gordon Burleigh IV.
After her husband's death in 1959, she was employed in several positions, which include Ticonderoga School Board of Education clerk, Village of Ticonderoga treasurer, International Paper Company receptionist and Fort Ticonderoga Museum attendant. Among her many affiliations and honors were the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America (70+ year member), Essex County March of Dimes Foundation, Moses-Ludington Hospital Ladies Auxiliary Guild, Girl Scout Committee, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, New Horizons, Ticonderoga Historical Society, Ticonderoga Festival Guild, Friends of the Black Watch Memorial Library, Ticonderoga Heritage Museum, BPW. Woman of the Year and the Ticonderoga High School Honorary graduate.
Evelyn had a special commitment to the Essex County ARC, now known as Mountain Lake Services, of which she was a founding board member and honorary board member. She was especially proud of the accomplishments of her daughter, Betty, the first participant in the program and shared a vision with other board members to enhance the lives of those with disabilities. In October of 2005, she was honored by the naming of the Evelyn C. Burleigh Day Habilitation Center for her consistent and tireless advocacy of community inclusion of citizens with special needs.
On the occasion of her 100th birthday, she was recognized for her life accomplishments by the Town of Ticonderoga and the New York State Legislature. The Senate resolution described her as a "beloved lady" who "has enriched the lives of those around her through her joyous and sincere love for others and through the quiescent charm and wisdom which comes only from a fullness of years."
At age 13, she became Ticonderoga's first girl to take an airplane ride. Flying with barnstormer pilot, Clarence Chamberlain, a Charles Lindbergh competitor for the first transatlantic solo flight, she was with him when his plane made a crash landing in Ticonderoga.
Besides the aforementioned children, she is also survived by 25 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin Street, Ticonderoga.
The Rite of Committal will follow at the family plot of the Mt. Hope Cemetery of Ticonderoga.
She was born in Ticonderoga on Oct. 1, 1906, the daughter of Thomas Francis and Mary O'Hearn Cunningham.
After grammar school in Ticonderoga, she attended Sherman Park Seminary in Port Henry in 1918 from which she graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1924.
She was employed in her father's pharmacy until her marriage to Henry Gordon Burleigh III on Feb. 13, 1928, when she took up residence at the Burleigh family home on Champlain Avenue.
Gordon and Evelyn raised a family of nine children, the late H. Gordon Burleigh IV.
After her husband's death in 1959, she was employed in several positions, which include Ticonderoga School Board of Education clerk, Village of Ticonderoga treasurer, International Paper Company receptionist and Fort Ticonderoga Museum attendant. Among her many affiliations and honors were the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America (70+ year member), Essex County March of Dimes Foundation, Moses-Ludington Hospital Ladies Auxiliary Guild, Girl Scout Committee, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, New Horizons, Ticonderoga Historical Society, Ticonderoga Festival Guild, Friends of the Black Watch Memorial Library, Ticonderoga Heritage Museum, BPW. Woman of the Year and the Ticonderoga High School Honorary graduate.
Evelyn had a special commitment to the Essex County ARC, now known as Mountain Lake Services, of which she was a founding board member and honorary board member. She was especially proud of the accomplishments of her daughter, Betty, the first participant in the program and shared a vision with other board members to enhance the lives of those with disabilities. In October of 2005, she was honored by the naming of the Evelyn C. Burleigh Day Habilitation Center for her consistent and tireless advocacy of community inclusion of citizens with special needs.
On the occasion of her 100th birthday, she was recognized for her life accomplishments by the Town of Ticonderoga and the New York State Legislature. The Senate resolution described her as a "beloved lady" who "has enriched the lives of those around her through her joyous and sincere love for others and through the quiescent charm and wisdom which comes only from a fullness of years."
At age 13, she became Ticonderoga's first girl to take an airplane ride. Flying with barnstormer pilot, Clarence Chamberlain, a Charles Lindbergh competitor for the first transatlantic solo flight, she was with him when his plane made a crash landing in Ticonderoga.
Besides the aforementioned children, she is also survived by 25 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin Street, Ticonderoga.
The Rite of Committal will follow at the family plot of the Mt. Hope Cemetery of Ticonderoga.
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See more Burleigh or Cunningham memorials in:
- Mount Hope Cemetery Burleigh or Cunningham
- Ticonderoga Burleigh or Cunningham
- Essex County Burleigh or Cunningham
- New York Burleigh or Cunningham
- USA Burleigh or Cunningham
- Find a Grave Burleigh or Cunningham
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