Laura Anne (Mannix) Burke, 52, of Murrayville, IL, died Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital.

She was born Sept. 3, 1971, in Carmel, NY, the daughter of Joseph Peters and Elizabeth Ann (Murphy) Mannix. She married James Robert Burke on Oct. 22, 1994, at St. Bartholomew Church in Murrayville, and he survives.

She is also survived by two children, Cole Martin Burke of Jacksonville, and Kalleigh Sue Burke of Murrayville; one sister, Suzanne Mannix (John Donovan) of Herndon, VA; and one brother, James (Charity) Mannix of Jacksonville. She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Michelle Mannix; and one brother Joseph Mannix.

Laura was a 1989 graduate of Jacksonville High School and graduated from Eastern Illinois University with the Class of 1993, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. She later attended the University of Illinois at Springfield where she received her elementary education teaching certification. Following her education, she was employed as a teacher at Elm City Center in Jacksonville, working with adults with developmental disabilities. While her kids were little, she was a stay-at-home mom, and later worked for Jacksonville Public Schools and had been the Development Director for Our Saviour School in Jacksonville. She most recently was a crisis counselor at Mental Health Centers of Illinois. Laura was a former member of St. Bartholomew Church in Murrayville before becoming a member of Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville. She had served as a Big Sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She enjoyed being outside working in the garden and loved exercising, particularly walking. Laura especially loved her children and was very involved in all their activities.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated 10:00 AM Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville. The family will meet friends from 9:00 to 10:00 AM prior to the service at the church. The family will hold a private committal service in Cape Cod, MA at a later date. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA). The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at buchanancody.com.