Submitted by Ray J. Kawka, Jr.
PERTH AMBOY – The queen of my family passed away at home on January 2, 2022. A lifelong resident of Perth Amboy, class of 1939 of St. Mary’s High School, a true Irish woman, she was the oldest member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Perth Amboy (Hibernians). She worked at city hall and the American Smelting and Refining Company (AS&R) in the office on outer State Street. Her husband, Charles was a WWII Veteran who had passed away in 1999 and worked as a security guard for AS&R.
Mary’s father, Patrick Burke, came from Ireland. He founded the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1896 and was in the Fire Department. He trained the horses that pulled the steam engines and ladder trucks.
His brothers were also firemen. Patrick drove the first motorized apparatus around town. Mary is the last surviving member of the Burke family. She had four brothers: Patrick Burke, Jr., Edward Burke, Needsy Burke, and James Burke; three sisters: Rose Burke, Margaret Burke, and Patricia Burke, who passed away at one-year-old.
There are so many stories throughout the years. When only grandson, Ray Kawka, Jr., known as R.J., cleaned out her house about 4-6 years ago, he found many pictures, so he put them all together in albums. These were photos that she had not seen in years. When she saw the photos, her face lit up saying, “Wow, boy! Oh boy! Look at this,” telling her grandson more and more stories. R.J. did a lot for his grandma. When he was old enough, R.J. helped out Grandma & his late Uncle Mav (Mary’s son, Charlie) who passed away last May. R.J. helped around the house as a handyman.
Mary had four children: son Patrick Logan, his wife Ann Harth Logan, son Brian Logan, his wife Bonnie McIntyre Logan, son Charles Logan (deceased) and daughter Nancy Logan Kawka, (Mary’s son-in-law and Nancy’s husband) Ray Kawka, Sr. and son (Mary’s grandson) R.J. Mary and the late Rose Weikel from the Salvation Army reminded the family of actress Betty White. A huge loss to the family. Keeping the Hibernian family and everyone else in our prayers.
Visitation will be held at the Flynn and Son Funeral Home, 424 East Avenue, Perth Amboy, NJ, on Saturday, January 8, 2022, from 8:30 to 10:30 am. Funeral Liturgy will be at 11 a.m. at Blessed John Paul II Parish, St. Stephen’s Church.Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Perth Amboy.
To sign the guestbook, go to https://www.flynnfuneral.com/obituary/mary-logan. In keeping with Mary’s generous spirit, donations to a charity of your choice are appreciated.
