Obituaries
Miriam H. Burkland, 98
November 22, 2020
After quietly celebrating her 98th birthday with her daughter at her side and family via phone calls, Miriam, or “Dodie“ as she was known by her grandchildren, passed away in her sleep in the early evening of November 22, 2020 at the Mennonite Home in Lancaster.
Born in Lancaster she was the daughter of the late Gottleib J. and Louise Foernsler Hoppler.
Upon graduating from Lancaster Catholic High School in 1940, she worked at RCA and then Watt and Shand department store where she met her husband of 70 years, A. William Burkland, Jr., who passed away in 2013.
In her early years she was a dedicated homemaker who enjoyed cooking, gardening, and sewing. In the
late 50’s, she and her husband opened a grocery store and a sub and steak shop on Second Street in Lancaster which they operated until the late 60’s. After it closed, she attended night school at McCaskey and took bookkeeping classes and then worked for Frank Dantro Associates as their bookkeeper for 17 years. During this same period, she traveled by train to Long Beach, CA to spend 3 months with her daughter whose husband was on a Navy deployment to Vietnam.
She enjoyed her retirement years with two trips to the Holy Lands and various train trips with her grandsons.
As a lifelong member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, she was an active member of their prayer group and also one at St John Neumann. She also did volunteer work at Landis Homes’ gift shop.
She is survived by her daughter Patricia Keller wife of Lawrence Keller of Lancaster; her two grandsons Brant, husband of Isa (Squicciarini ) Keller of New Hartford,CT and Peter, husband of Kathy (Fitzgerald) Keller of Pittsburgh, PA and five great grandchildren: Blake, Brody ,Brendan, Aidan and Morgan and also several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her 3 sisters, Anna Trego, Laura Greenawalt and Madeline Eckenrode.
Although her eyesight and hearing failed her in recent years, she still remained sharp and alert. She still had her warm smile and continued to show her lifelong kindess towards others. Her daily prayers, and her strong faith in God that He was watching over her and her family was an inspiration and a blessing for all of us.
Her recipe for a long life can be summed up with faith, family, Wilbur chocolate buds and ice cream. She will be greatly missed.
The family would also like to thank all the nurses and staff of the Mennonite Home for their care and concern for her for almost 5 years.
Services for Miriam will be private. A celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date
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Condolences to the Family
November 29, 2020
Patty
I remember many, many fun times with your family all those years ago. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Those subs and the penny candy I remember like it was yesterday. I thank you for the “adorable” photos you have given me.
Love,
Josie
November 25, 2020
Dearest Patty and Family; This obit you created perfectly reflects who this lovely woman, your Mother, my aunt, truly was. Only someone with great love in their heart for her could have painted the most accurate picture of Miriam that you did. May the Lord God continue to be your comfort as you mourn the loss of your beloved motherm but also rejoicing in the knowledge that she walked in His Way in this life to prepare her for the life she shall now enjoy with Him eternally. Shalom and Love,
Maureen
November 24, 2020
Dear Patricia and family,
I want to convey my deepest sympathy on the loss of your dear mother. I am part of the ministry team who brought Holy Communion to your mother at Mennonite Home. Mim was a devout, faith-filled woman. We will miss her.
When I visited her, we often talked about my dogs and her cat whose picture was by her chair. She enjoyed hearing abouth the antics of my 2 rescue dogs. And she spoke of you, too.
But I knew your on another level. She knew my mother who grew up in the same neighborhood as your father. When I first met Mim at Mennonite, I reminded her of that connection and she remembered my mother and her family.
May God bless you with peace and all good.
Jean Nikolaus, Pastoral Assistant
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
Lancaster, PA
