DENVER, Colo. — Janiece R. (Dailey) Burke, 86, died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, at Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colo. Janiece was born in 1935 in Great Bend, Kan., the daughter of John W. “Jack” and Edith Ann (Kummer) Dailey.
Janiece graduated from Great Bend High School in 1953. After high school Janiece was asked by the parish priest, “what are you going to do the rest of your life.” She then took the opportunity to travel to Africa to provide administrative assistance to the bishop and also to work in a Catholic mission in Nigeria. While in Africa she met, in passing, a Chicago native, James “Jim” William Burke and although spending relatively little time together, they made a connection. They corresponded via many letters, and later rekindled their connection when Janiece took Jim up on his offer to stop in Chicago “if or when” she ever passed through. They were married on Nov. 18, 1961, and began raising a family, first in Chicago, Ill., then Great Bend, Kan. and finally settling in Golden, Colo. They enjoyed life together until Janiece lost her beloved Jim to cancer in 1988.
In Janiece’s work life, she touched many people, working in a dental office and later with the Jefferson County Public Schools from 1974 to 1992. Retiring early, Janiece returned to Chicago and took on the nanny role for an international opera singer, living and traveling the world while sharing her beautiful spirit with her young charge. In 1994, she returned to Denver where she reconnected with friends, worked at a travel agency, an import shop, and later with the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce before retiring again.
She was an active communicator, noting important dates and staying in touch with the people in her life — it was sometimes half joked that she did much to keep Hallmark and the USPS in business. She will be missed by the many people she kept in touch with over the years. Her greatest strength was in being the best mom, a caring sister, a wonderful aunt and the greatest “Neeno” that two grandchildren could ever have.
Survivors include two sons and their spouses, Tom Burke and Ruth Gilmore of Seattle, Wash., Michael and Ruth Ann Burke of Columbia, Mo.; two granddaughters, Madison Burke of Columbia, Mo. and Miranda Burke of Des Moines, Iowa; brother, Richard “Dick” Dailey of Great Bend, Kan.; 16 nieces and nephews; and many wonderful great nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her husband Jim; her parents; five brothers, James Dailey, William Dailey, Jack Dailey Jr., Donald “Dee” Dailey, and Jerry Dailey; five sisters: Gwen Bible, Peggy Dailey, Patricia Dillard, Eleanor Dailey, and Dorothy Hershey; and a nephew, John Dailey.
There will be no visitation, but a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. A memorial has been designated at Samaritan House in Denver, CO https://samhousedenver.org/donate/
To plant a memorial tree in honor of Janiece R. (Dailey) Burke, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 28, 2022
