ForeverMissed
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MARY-BETH BURHITE
Nov. 24, 1951 - Oct. 17, 2020


The first date listed here reflects the beginning of Mary Burhite’s life, but the second date is not representative of the end. The little dash between the dates signifies the time she spent living on this earth. Those that were blessed to love her, will cherish each day that made up her dash.

Mary Beth Burhite, age 68, passed away on October 17, 2020, she was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1951. Mary graduated from Maine East High School and married her high school sweetheart, Scott Peterson, aka “Bonjo”. She gave birth to her first daughter Tiffany in 1975 and then Krista “Kissy” in 1979. She was a waitress for most of her life, though spent a decade at John’s Garage in Woodfield Mall where she met Rick Burhite in 1982. On October 10, 1987, they were married and in the subsequent years made many dreams come true together. Some of their dreams include; the purchase of their first home on Wander Way in Cary, IL, building their first custom home on Wright Road and the move to the farm in Bull Valley, IL which Mary called her “Little Taste of Heaven”. 

Mary had an amazing love for her animals and was the mom to many dogs, cats, birds and of course her first horse, McQue. From Chicago, to South Florida, to Northern California, Mary spent her later years with her 2 Daughters and 6 Grandchildren in Florida and California. Her love and life lessons will live on with her girls and prizes forever. 

Mary has reunited in Heaven with the “Other Half of her Heart”,  the “Love of Her Life”, Rick Burhite and mother, Helen F. Quinlan. In addition, her Dixie, Sinbad, Sir Kahn, Filthy McNasty, Casper, Tiger, FeatherLight, Murphy, Hoss, Bugsy, McQue, Stringer, Wilber, Clancy, Luka, Buck, Finches and Frogs… who all welcomed her on arrival. 

Mary Burhite is survived by her two daughters, Tiffany Padia and Krista Peterson, which made up the Three Musketeers; son-in-law, Kyle Padia; her grandchildren aka “6 Prizes”, Mason Peterson, Jackson Romanoski, Gavin Romanoski, Bayley Padia, Olivia Romanoski, and Austen Padia; her parrot, Jake; her “Daddy”, Donald Quinlan; brothers, Michael Quinlan, John Quinlan, and Donald Quinlan; sisters, Diane McClead, Linda Falco, Helen Sommerschield, Susan Johnson and Katie Stuckmann; Her “Bonjo” Scott Peterson and many brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, animals and rocks. 

You can find her by looking up in the stars, as she always said she would be “right next to the brightest star in the sky and looking down on us always.” Mary will be greatly missed, loved and remembered in the hearts of so many. 


Please join us in celebrating Mary Burhite's life by sharing a story, lighting a candle, and uploading your favorite photo of her. 

In lieu of flowers donations are being accepted for:  
The Mary Burhite Memorial Fund dedicated to her grandchildren: Mason, Jackson, Gavin, Bayley, Olivia & Austen
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Donations can be made to Holy Hill in Mary Burhite's name, where we will place a plaque in her memory. Please mail donations directly to: 
Holy Hill - Mary Burhite Memorial Offering -1525 Carmel Rd., Hubertus, WI 53033

The family can be reached by mail or email at the following: 
Tiffany Padia | 1673 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, CA 95124 | tpadia@cuhsd.org
Krista Peterson | 10981 Ravel Ct, Boca Raton, FL 33498 | kristapeterson17@icloud.com
December 1, 2020
December 1, 2020
It took me a long time to be ready to leave a tribute on this site. I think it had a lot to do with denial. Mar and I have been very close for many years. We spent hours talking late at night, (often face to face during many visits to Florida) but mostly on FaceTime or on the phone in the last few years. We could talk for hours. I think we understood each other and enjoyed each others company. Mar and I had had a special bond, and I think she had a similar bond with many others. Mar had the ability to be your best friend and ally. She was understanding and never judged. She trusted almost everyone. I did my best to change that and never could. Mar had many blessings, her girls, grandchildren and all the animals. She was also very thankful for her life partner Rick. He was a great person and worked very hard to fulfill so many of her dreams! Every couple days I get the urge to call and talk to her and I often do, just in a different way. I know I will never forget her. I can't ever remember being mad at her for anything. She touched my life! Mar meant a lot too many people. I feel lucky to have had her as my sister, but she will be missed most as my friend. I love you Mar and I will see you later!
November 22, 2020
November 22, 2020
Aunt Mar was one of a kind. She had the biggest heart and was so down to earth and never judged anyone , she had such a pure heart.

When people met her for the first time they felt like they had known her forever.

Her love for animals is what I’ll always remember, we had that in common and always loved to talk about dogs and horses together. I’ll miss our FaceTimes with my dad, Aunt Diana’s, Uncle John and my sisters. I’ll always remember sleepovers at aunt Mar’s as a kid, her love for animals, her infectious laugh, all her tattoos and the stories about them, and to never say goodbye, always see you later.
I love you Aunt Mar, see you later
November 9, 2020
November 9, 2020
Mary and I met working at Johns Garage at Woodfield Mall and became instant friends. We were rarely out not wearing our "cool" matching burgundy Johns Garage jackets that we cherished. I will always enjoy the memories from those times as Mary met her future husband Rick and I met my now husband Bill. Rick and Bill also enjoyed a great friendship and we all spent many Halloween and St. Patrick days together, (Mary's favorites), and looked forward to those days every year. We spent many crazy fun Anniversary weekends at the Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva WI. Surprisingly Lake Geneva allowed us back each year.
Mary and Ricks home on Wander Way in Cary was across the street from her favorite place Chris's Coach House and we met there for dinner frequently. Even though the restaurant is long gone , the sign still stands and I think of her and smile every time I pass. We also spent countless summer days sitting out by the River at her other favorite Kief's Reef and always enjoyed the day.
Mary's love of animals and creatures of all shapes and sizes was unmatched. She proved that when she invented the Toad-A-Vator. A gadget to rescue the many toads that were sure to spend eternity in her window wells without her. It was really quite genius.
Mary's love for her daughter's Tiffany and Krista , a.k.a Kissy, was immeasurable. They were always her pride and joy. They were both beautiful and kind children and grew into amazing accomplished adults. Mary would always keep me up to date on their achievements, which were many. Mary also loved telling me all about her wonderful grandchildren who also brought her great joy.
Mary will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget her. And although I am very saddened by her passing, I am also joyful that her and Rick are together again as their relationship was truly special. I am also relieved that all the animals and creatures in heaven will all be spoiled rotten.
Mary was truly one of a kind and I am forever blessed to have been her friend. The world will not be the same without her.
Love Always, rest in peace my dear friend.
November 3, 2020
November 3, 2020
I met Mary in high school and we later married and had 2 beautiful daughters, Tiffany and Krista. I have many fond memories of our years together. She was a great mother to our girls and later a great grandmother to her grandchildren. One of her greatest attributes was her innocence toward life. She had a big heart for others and cared about every animal on the planet. I will never forget our 2 bedroom condo with a couple finches and before we knew it, we had an aviary with 21 finches! Soon we had an underwater frog, some fish and 2 Afghan Hound's. That was just a small part of Mary's love for animals! We spent many wonderful years together. She later married the love of her life, Rick, who I will always appreciate for loving her the way he did and being such a great stepdad to our girls. My wife Wendy had the opportunity to meet Mary at Tiffany's wedding and Wendy spoke of how gracious and kind Mary was. I will always remember her as this kind person also with a heart of gold! Fly high with the Angel's Mary and may you rest in peace with Rick and all the animals in Heaven. You will be missed by all whose lives you touched. With love, Scott, Wendy, Peyton and Pace
November 2, 2020
November 2, 2020
Have you ever felt unappreciated? Have you ever felt like all your efforts are taken for granted? I know I’ve been down that road a time or two, and until recently when you encouraged me that my labors would pay off and they did. 

You shared with me that regardless of what we decide, one thing is certain… when we are out in the world giving it 110% and feeling like nobody noticed, we was wrong. People are aware of our efforts. People are watching from a distance. People have expressed their appreciation, and are now offering me gratitude I once yearned for. If nothing else, this has served as a life lesson. Be honest, be passionate, and put heart into whoever is around you despite your pain. It won’t go unnoticed. Someday your name will be subliminally stamped on all your past efforts. When the time comes, make sure you’ll be proud to own up to them. I want to thank you for several of the conversations we have had about smiling through the pain and loving despite how the world has treated you. I thank you for the impact you have made in my life and I will forever remember and pay it forward because of you. Mr Harris
October 23, 2020
October 23, 2020
I love you Higher than the Highest, Deeper than the Deepest, Further than the Furtherest, Longer that the Longest... I love you Mom always.

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Recent Tributes
December 1, 2020
December 1, 2020
It took me a long time to be ready to leave a tribute on this site. I think it had a lot to do with denial. Mar and I have been very close for many years. We spent hours talking late at night, (often face to face during many visits to Florida) but mostly on FaceTime or on the phone in the last few years. We could talk for hours. I think we understood each other and enjoyed each others company. Mar and I had had a special bond, and I think she had a similar bond with many others. Mar had the ability to be your best friend and ally. She was understanding and never judged. She trusted almost everyone. I did my best to change that and never could. Mar had many blessings, her girls, grandchildren and all the animals. She was also very thankful for her life partner Rick. He was a great person and worked very hard to fulfill so many of her dreams! Every couple days I get the urge to call and talk to her and I often do, just in a different way. I know I will never forget her. I can't ever remember being mad at her for anything. She touched my life! Mar meant a lot too many people. I feel lucky to have had her as my sister, but she will be missed most as my friend. I love you Mar and I will see you later!
November 22, 2020
November 22, 2020
Aunt Mar was one of a kind. She had the biggest heart and was so down to earth and never judged anyone , she had such a pure heart.

When people met her for the first time they felt like they had known her forever.

Her love for animals is what I’ll always remember, we had that in common and always loved to talk about dogs and horses together. I’ll miss our FaceTimes with my dad, Aunt Diana’s, Uncle John and my sisters. I’ll always remember sleepovers at aunt Mar’s as a kid, her love for animals, her infectious laugh, all her tattoos and the stories about them, and to never say goodbye, always see you later.
I love you Aunt Mar, see you later
November 9, 2020
November 9, 2020
Mary and I met working at Johns Garage at Woodfield Mall and became instant friends. We were rarely out not wearing our "cool" matching burgundy Johns Garage jackets that we cherished. I will always enjoy the memories from those times as Mary met her future husband Rick and I met my now husband Bill. Rick and Bill also enjoyed a great friendship and we all spent many Halloween and St. Patrick days together, (Mary's favorites), and looked forward to those days every year. We spent many crazy fun Anniversary weekends at the Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva WI. Surprisingly Lake Geneva allowed us back each year.
Mary and Ricks home on Wander Way in Cary was across the street from her favorite place Chris's Coach House and we met there for dinner frequently. Even though the restaurant is long gone , the sign still stands and I think of her and smile every time I pass. We also spent countless summer days sitting out by the River at her other favorite Kief's Reef and always enjoyed the day.
Mary's love of animals and creatures of all shapes and sizes was unmatched. She proved that when she invented the Toad-A-Vator. A gadget to rescue the many toads that were sure to spend eternity in her window wells without her. It was really quite genius.
Mary's love for her daughter's Tiffany and Krista , a.k.a Kissy, was immeasurable. They were always her pride and joy. They were both beautiful and kind children and grew into amazing accomplished adults. Mary would always keep me up to date on their achievements, which were many. Mary also loved telling me all about her wonderful grandchildren who also brought her great joy.
Mary will always have a special place in my heart and I will never forget her. And although I am very saddened by her passing, I am also joyful that her and Rick are together again as their relationship was truly special. I am also relieved that all the animals and creatures in heaven will all be spoiled rotten.
Mary was truly one of a kind and I am forever blessed to have been her friend. The world will not be the same without her.
Love Always, rest in peace my dear friend.
Recent stories
October 24, 2020
Dearest Mary, 
When your daughter and my son were married 15 years ago, our families merged and melded together.  We shared our love of our children as well as our precious grandchildren. Mason, Bayley, and Austin were your “prizes” and my “babies”.  The love we share for these blessings is deep and never ending.  
Thank you for all you gave in life to guide, mold, and love them. And thank you for continuing as their grandma angel. You will be missed, but never forgotten.
With love,
Karen Padi

My Friend and the Magic of Patcholli

October 23, 2020
I met Mary (at about 1a.m) doing my dishes with the kitchen window and front door open. All of the sudden I get this familiar smell, it was(is) one of my favorite smells of all time. Anyway, as I tried to find out where this smell was coming from I noticed a woman at the mailbox area. I waited to see if that was the one wearing it, I said, " are you wearing patcholli?" She said, " yes, is it too strong", I told her "no, I wish I had some". She than told me to wait right there and she'll be back and sure enough she came back and we've been neighbors and friends ever since. I loved Mary, and I will miss her very much. My puppy, Nylae will miss her too. Why, just today we went on a walk in our complex and Nylae started going to Mary's  door, I got so sad.
Mary, I am very grateful to have met you, love you friend. 
De Lanya

Still remember 30 years later

October 23, 2020
I remember the first time I went over to hang out with Tiff and eventually Krista that when we left the house, the serious questions began:

Q: What are we gonna be?
A: Carful

Q: What are we gonna ware:
A: Seatbelts

Ever single time we left the house. ❤️❤️❤️

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