Charlene (Char) Frances Burke, a longtime resident of Bainbridge Island, died on Sept. 15, 2014 in Spokane.

Charlene was born in Chicago, IL on Feb. 15, 1945 to Charles and Frances Burke. She was the youngest of four sisters and one brother.

She moved with her family in 1952 and attended St. Charles Borromeo School, Marycliff High School an briefly attended a period of discernment with the Sisters of St. Francis in La Cross Wis.

Charlene returned to Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington with honors and a bachelor of arts degree in English and education. She worked and traveled extensively in the retail industry at Nordstom, Brittana and Jay Jacobs, then worked at Security Pacific Bank and community and schools.

She married Michael Joy in 1993 and was widowed in 1995.

Charlene was a very avid reader and a great debater. She was a strong advocate for human and animal rights and an extremely compassionate, loving person.

She will be missed but we know an angel with a name.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 4515 N Alberta, Spokane, and the internment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7200 N Wall St., Spokane.