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Linda Walters Burke of Madison passed away peacefully at home on April 23, after a courageous battle with glioblastoma.

Linda was the first of four daughters of the late Theodore and Christine Walters of Windsor. She graduated from University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later went on to complete her master’s degree in education from Southern Connecticut State University.

Linda had a lifelong passion for education and began her teaching career in New Haven, where she taught for 10 years before taking time off to raise her own children. She returned to teach kindergarten and 1st grade for 17 years at Ryerson Elementary School in Madison. Her goal as a teacher was to have every child leave 1st grade with a love of reading.

She is survived and will be dearly missed by her husband of 44 years, Thomas Burke of Madison; her son Michael and daughter-in-law Jennifer and their sons Miles and Ryan of Groton, Massachusetts; and her daughter Lindsay Naughton and son-in-law Joe and their daughters Mary and Maggie of Westport. She is also survived by her three sisters, Susan Moschetto of Enfield, Patricia DeFranzo of Windsor, and Sandra Gresham of South Windsor.

Linda loved taking care of her home and family. She was often helping family members with gardening, decorating, and organizing their houses and could always be counted on for advice and support. She and Tom enjoyed spending winters in Venice, Florida, after their retirements, although Linda often had to come back and forth to see and help with her grandchildren. She was known to them as “Dee” and she adored them beyond measure.

She was always an avid reader, liked spending time cooking and baking in the kitchen, and always stayed active with her dogs, frequently taking them for walks around the Guilford Green. She also enjoyed travels to Europe with Lindsay and a good friend. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A memorial will be held at a later date this summer. In lieu of flowers, a tribute can be made to Smilow Cancer Hospital, 35 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519 or VNA Community Healthcare and Hospice, 735 Boston Post Road Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437.