Obituary of Fleurette Rose Marie Burak

BURAK, Fleurette Marie Rose (née Roberge)
 
It is with much sorrow and sadness that the Burak family announce the passing of our mother,
grandmother and great grandmother on Sunday March 30th. Fleurette (Flo) was the second child of
Louis (1989) and Bernadine (Ducharme) (2003) Roberge. ‘Ma’ joins her husband of 65 years ,
William (Bill) Burak (2017), a daughter Marie (1961), and her five brothers: Lionel (2012), Jean Louis
(1982), Michel (2019), Omer (2000) and Paul (1981) and her two sisters, Lucie Arbuckle (2023) and
Monique Boulanger (2022). Flo has joined them in our ‘Traditional Roberge Family Reunion’ with the
angels in Heaven. Missing her with cherished memories and love are her seven children: Ron
Swede Burak (Linda), Paulette Burak, Jean Paul Burak (Sue), Suzanne Lamers (Mike), Phil Burak,
Jeannette Burak-Gervasio (Tony 2019), and Robert Burak (Patti); two brothers Guy Roberge and
Bernard Roberge (Sylvie) and three sisters Bernadette Cote (Fern 1990), Yvette Wiley (Bob 2021)
and Yolande (Andre). Her twenty grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren will also miss
her warm smiles and hugs. 
 
Fleurette was born in Verner, a small town in Northern Ontario; She was the second eldest of
thirteen children. After the seventh was born, the family moved to Larder Lake, a small mining town
where the family continued to grow. She was very athletic and was a star runner - Ma used to play
baseball against the boys! Ma stayed home in her teenage years to help around the house and
became the second ‘maman’ to the younger four siblings who adored her.
Ma trained as a nurse in Toronto and after graduation she returned to larder Lake. Shortly after she
met Bill at a dance “and fell in love”; They married September 20, 1952. Bill (Pa) became a
supervisor in open pit mining and as a result of his job the family moved to Bancroft, Wabush
Labrador, Norman Township, Capreol, and New Sudbury. The family finally settled on a small farm
on #8 HWY between Vineland and Beamsville in 1966. Ma's farming skills came to fruition there as a
canner, wine maker, gardener, seamstress, and knitter, to name a few of her many talents.
 
Wherever the family lived, Ma belonged to the CWL and held all positions over her lifetime, including
President. She also was the choir director and organist at the Church and had the most beautiful
singing voice right up to her 97 th year. As a faith-based and loving person, she also volunteered for
Meals on Wheels; when it first came into the Town of Lincoln; She opened her home and heart to
all that needed it. Ma devoted her life to her Lord, her family, her friends and those in need.
We will miss you ‘Maman’!
 
Funeral Mass will be held at St. Denis Roman Catholic Church
230 Lake st. St. Catharines 
10 AM Friday April 4th 2025
 
A special thanks to Dr. Jensen, the nurses and staff on the 5th floor at Niagara Hospital in St.
Catharines for care and her comfort in her final days and hours.
 
Ma has requested that in lieu of flowers that donations are made to St. Denis Church in memory of
Fleurette or to the Niagara Hospice.
If flowers are your preference please send them to the following address
38 Arran drive apt 104
St Catharines Ont.
L2N 6X6