Gladys M. Burke
February 24, 1918 - December 23, 2022

Gladys M. Burke (nee Aylward), age 104, a resident of Des Plaines, Illinois since 1955 passed away December 23, 2022. Beloved wife of 50 years to the late Neil F. Burke. Loving mother of Tracey Burke, Mary Ellen (Mike) Byrne, the late Elizabeth Burke, and the late Timothy Burke. Proud grandmother of Matthew, Jenna, and Steven Byrne (Jennifer). Dear sister of the late Virginia Andrews and loving nieces and nephews. Gladys was born February 24, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Richard P. and the late Lillian M. (nee Anderson) Aylward. Born during the Spanish Flu Pandemic, she grew up during the Depression and graduated high school at age 16 in 1934 ½. She went right to work at the Continental Bank on Lasalle Street in Chicago and worked there for many years. She met and married Neil F. Burke in 1947. They bought their home on Spruce Avenue in Des Plaines in 1955 where they raised their family. In 1967, she became employed with GTE Company and worked there for approximately 17 years typing the phone book and eventually doing ad page paste-up work, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She retired in 1984 to take care of her elderly mother. She continued living in Des Plaines until her death. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Stephen's Catholic Church. Her wit, her wisdom and her kindness will be truly missed. 

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 28, 2022 from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at G.L. Hills Funeral Home, 745 Graceland Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois. Prayers will be held Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 10:15 am at the funeral home, Mass to follow at 11:00 am at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church, 1280 Prospect Ave., Des Plaines, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Gladys' name can be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.