Mary Jane Burdick

Mary Jane Burdick

CLIFTON PARK/ALFRED STATION – Mary Jane Burdick, 85, of Clifton Park, NY, formerly of Pleasant Valley Road, Alfred Station, NY, passed away early Wednesday morning (Oct. 11, 2023) at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY.

Born in Hornell on July 19, 1938, she was a daughter of the late Emery and Rose (Cappell) Silsby. On June 2, 1970, she was married at St. Brendan’s Church in Almond, NY, to Douglas D. Burdick, who predeceased her on Sept. 15, 2013, after 43 years of marriage. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her first husband, Herman “Dutch” Faughnan; three children, John Faughnan, Lydia Puleo and Margery Day; and six siblings, Rose “Fritz” Casterline, Evelyn Coddington, John Silsby, James Silsby, Paul Silsby and Carol Campbell.

Her most important job was being the wife of Doug and mother of her eight children, as well as many others she unofficially adopted along the way.

Mary Jane was very proud of her sewing skills and made most of her children’s clothes. After her children were grown, she became proud of the banners she helped make for many colleges and organizations through the Kampus Kave in Alfred, NY. Throughout the years, she also enjoyed reading and crocheting.

A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Brendan’s Church in Almond and St. Jude’s Chapel in Alfred and loved to collect different types of rosary beads.

After the death of her husband Doug, she moved to Clifton Park to start a new chapter in her life with new friends, activities and hobbies.

She is lovingly survived by five children, Beth (Mark) Lay of Springville, NY, Dawn (Jessa Miller) Burdick of Alfred Station, Alan (Therese) Burdick of Lake Grove, NY, William Burdick of Liege, Belgium, and Gretchen Burdick of Clifton Park; a daughter-in-law, Yvonne Faughnan of Andover, NY; a son-in-law, Andrew Puleo of Wayland, NY; 18 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one sister Dolores “Dee” Cook of Pennsylvania; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours are from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 16, 2023) at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell. Relatives and friends are invited to meet her family at St. Brendan’s Church, Almond, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday (Oct. 17, 2023). Committal prayers and interment will follow at Alfred Rural Cemetery, Alfred Station.

An additional service will be held in Clifton Park at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to either Catholic Charities-Steuben/Livingston (envelopes will be available at the funeral home) or to a local food pantry of the donor’s choice.

The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home is honored to assist Mary Jane’s family with the arrangements.

Online condolence or remembrance of Mary Jane are welcome below in the comment section or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home or at www.bishopdesanto.com.