Irma Burr

Irma Garrigan Burr died peacefully in Middleton, Wisconsin on August 21, 2011 at the age of 94. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 25, 1917, the daughter of Matthew Patrick and Ada Frances (Gunn) Garrigan. Irma attended Michigan State University and St. Mary's College, Indiana, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1941. She took her Masters of Library Science in 1971 from the University of Oklahoma. Irma married John Green Burr, Jr. on June 12, 1943. They raised seven children, living in Evanston, Illinois; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Tarzana, California; London and Cambridge, England; and Norman, Oklahoma, and celebrated 58 amazing years of marriage. Irma relocated from Norman to Madison in 2008 to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Sara Burr and Joe Renville.
Irma contributed to her field as a librarian during her 15-year career at the National Library for the Blind and Handicapped in Oklahoma City, where she developed materials supporting the education of blind and physically disabled college students. She traveled throughout Europe with her family, and instilled a love of reading, history, investigation and imagination in her children. Full of laughter about life's mishaps, Irma was a wonderful homemaker, devout Catholic and parishioner of St. Thomas More University parish for 40 years, a lifelong Democrat, and a great believer in the value of higher education. Devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, colleague and friend, Irma's childhood nickname, Lovie, said it all, as she was beloved by everyone who knew her.
She is survived by her children: John G. (Sharon) Burr III, Richardson, Texas; Sara Burr (Joseph) Renville, Middleton, Wisconsin; Kathleen Burr Oliver, New York City; Maryellen Burr, Los Gatos, California; Elizabeth Burr, Norman, Oklahoma; Mark Christopher (Lisa) Burr, Austin, Texas; and Matthew Edward Burr, Austin, Texas; her grandchildren John G. Burr IV, Jessie Burr, Julia Oliver, Andrew (Jennie) Oliver, Timothy Oliver, Rachel Sax (Jamie) Hall, Sam Burr, Grace Burr, and Matthew Burr, and her great grandson, Liam Henry Oliver. She is further survived by her brother-in-law, Edward (Patricia) Burr, her sister-in-law, Eileen Bloom, 4 nieces, 3 nephews, and cherished friends. Irma was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her siblings, Matthew, Ada Frances, James and Thomas Garrigan, and her daughter-in-law, Mary Ann (Matt) Burr.
The family wishes to thank the kind caregivers at Brightstar, Oak Park Place and HospiceCare, and the pastors and parishioners at St. Thomas More who nourished her faith. There will be a Celebration of Irma's Life on Friday evening, September 23, 2011 from 7:30 until 9:00 p. m. at St. Thomas More University Parish Church, 100 E. Stinson, Norman, Oklahoma and a Memorial Mass on September 24, 2011, at 11:00 a. m. also at St. Thomas More's. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin; St. Mary's College, South Bend, Indiana; or St. Thomas More University Parish and Student Center, Norman, Oklahoma. Cress Funeral Services in Madison is assisting the family.

"Now take back the soul of Irma Garrigan Burr, whom you have shared with us. She brought us joy...we loved her well."