Villa Madonna alumna Lauren Gieske remembers her beloved teacher, Therese Ann Burden, as a great role model.
“She was a huge advocate for love, and also taught us to always keep our minds sharp,” says Gieske.
Burden, who was an educator for 57 years, passed away April 3. She was 82-years-old.
A graduate of St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame University and Indiana University, Burden pursued graduate studies at Notre Dame, Fordham and Boston College. She was a collector of all things Notre Dame, particularly the Fighting Irish.
Gieske says she loved Burden’s way of thinking.
“She always wanted to know what her students were thinking,” says Gieske. “If you told her you weren’t thinking about anything, she would reply with, ‘Absence is the presence of something, so tell me what you’re thinking about.’”
Burden was the daughter of the late Dr. Paul and Helen Urbain, born in Hamilton, OH on July 21, 1934. She was married to the late Frank E. Burden, and was mother of the late Colleen Ann Burden.
She is survived by her sister, Mary (Reginald) Barnard, nephew Brian (Julie) Barnard, and niece Christie Barnard Boron (Michael). In addition, she leaves behind great nephews, Daniel and Matthew Barnard, and great-nieces, Grace and Lilli Boron, as well as a host of friends and countless students whose lives she forever touched.
“Her presence will be greatly missed, but we are all very happy that she will get to be reunited with her husband in heaven,” says Gieske.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. John Fisher Church, 3227 Newtown Rd., Cincinnati, Friday, April 8, 2016, at 11 am.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Madonna Manor Chapel, 2344 Amsterdam Rd., Villa Hills, and Friday, April 8, from 11 am to 12 pm, at St. John Fisher Church, 3227, Cincinnati.