Obituary of Cecilia Burghardt

Cecilia Anne Burghardt, 89, of Stony Point, NY, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. She was born on April 15, 1927 in Lansford, PA to Andrew and Pauline Chuchran. After graduating as valedictorian from her high school class at St. Ann's in Lansford, Cecilia began work at the Allentown Morning Call newspaper where she was employed as a writer. Cecilia later moved to the New York metropolitan area where she worked and later met her husband, Robert Burghardt, whom she married on June 6, 1953. Robert and Cecilia were married for almost 49 years before he died in February 2002. Cecilia moved to Stony Point in 1954 when her husband Robert began his career as a teacher, first at Haverstraw High School and later, in the mathematics department at Rockland Community College. Along with her husband, Cecilia raised six children in her Stony Point home and was involved in her church and community. Cecilia volunteered for many years at Helen Hayes Hospital and was an active and devoted parishioner at St. Gregory Barbarigo Church in Garnerville, New York. Cecilia was an avid traveler and visited many countries and cities around the world, but had a special affinity for London. Cecilia had many other interests including cooking, baking, sewing, opera and spending time with her friends and family, especially her thirteen grandchildren. Cecilia is predeceased by her parents, Andrew and Pauline Chuchran, and her husband, Robert Paul Burghardt. She is survived by her children, Mary (Joseph) Gilchrist, Joseph (Sandra) Burghardt, Anne (Joseph) Bartolone, Rita (Brian) McDonough, Irene (David) Hauge and Robert (Lisa) Burghardt, as well as her brothers, Joseph Chuchran and Edward Chuchran. Cecilia is also survived by her grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 16th between the hours of 4 and 8 pm at the T.J. McGowan and Sons Funeral Home at 71 N. Central Highway, Garnerville, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 17th at 10 a.m. at St. Gregory Barbarigo Church, 25 Cinder Road, Garnerville, New York. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Cecilia's name to one of her favorite charities: Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Drive, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota 57770 or Catholic Relief Services, www.crs.org.