Mary Jane Burke Gunther

Mary Jane Burke Gunther, 86

Saratoga Springs - Mary Jane Burke Gunther, 86, of Cliffside Drive Saratoga Springs died Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at Saratoga Hospital after a brief illness.

Born in Troy, but resided in the Albany area most of her life she was daughter of the late Charles Burke and Mary Birmingham Burke and wife of the late Norman F. Gunther. She was a graduate of Lansingburgh High School class of 1940 and Mildred Elley Business School.

Mrs. Gunther was a model for 30 years and was featured on M. Solomon On Parade. She was owner of Fashion Arts Modeling Agency. She and her husband owned and ran Maico Hearing Aids for many years. She was also a secretary for the Albany Chief of Police, worked for Behr-Manning, and the American Red Cross. She was Executive Secretary for Governors Carey and Cuomo.

She was very active in the RPI Players. Mrs Gunther was a diehard Democrat, a gourmet cook and avid reader. Most of all she was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was an active volunteer in the Mother's Association of Holy Names and Albany Academy and volunteered with Historic Albany Movable Feast.

Survivors include her beloved children, Gretchen Finn of Saratoga Springs, John Gunther of Shushan, Ann Gunther of Delmar, Philip (Mary Anne) Gunther of Slingerlands, Katherine (Philip) Foote of Albany and Rosemary (Sean) McCooe, Ridgewood, NJ; a sister, Rita Welles of Menands; a brother, William Burke of Troy; her grandchildren, Eric (Gloria) Patrick, Andrew (Nalini) Patrick, Hester (Robert) Stewart, Isabel Gunther, William Gunther, Emily Gunther Brown, Alison Gunther, Michael Foote and John, Madeline, Cormac, Seamus and Clare McCooe; her great grandchildren, Sophia, Thalia, and Phoebe Patrick, Gunther John Stewart and Maple and Havanna Gunther and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Lenore Coleman.

Funeral service will be held Saturday at 8:15 AM at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. 276 Pawling Avenue Troy and at 9:00 AM at St. Joan of Arc Church Menands where a Mass of Christian Burial will be con-celebrated.

Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4-8 pm.

Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery Troy.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Mary Jane Gunther to the Cystic Fibrosis Capital District Chapter 12 Avis Drive Latham, NY 12110 or Capital City Rescue Mission PO Box 1999, 259 South Pearl Street Albany, NY 12202.

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