Deena R. Burkhardt

Deena R. (Marsella) Burkhardt, 93, of Worcester, closed her eyes on Saturday morning, April 23, 2016, and awoke in Heaven, to the loving embrace of her God and her husband John. Deena lit up the world with her smile and her graciousness.  She had the knack of making friends and friends who would become family, wherever she would go.  The people that got to enjoy her love, especially her daughter Roseann and her husband David, and granddaughter Jennifer will miss her dearly, but she will live forever in their hearts. Deena leaves the people that loved her; her daughter, Roseann Smith and her husband David of Worcester, their daughter Jennifer Smith of New Hampshire.  She also leaves her daughter Kathleen Ghiz, of Cape Cod and her two daughters, Emily Ghiz, and Olivia Ghiz. She also leaves sister in law, Katherine Marsella; two aunts, Angela DeAngelis and Carole Molinari, and her beloved DeAngelis cousins, nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband John Burkhardt in January 1985; and by a brother and two sisters; Robert A. Marsella, Marie Blanchard, and Eleanor Scott, and her godson Mark Marsella.   She was born in Worcester, daughter of the late, Rosino and Rose (DeAngelis) Marsella, and has lived here all her life. She worked for many years at Filenes in Worcester as the Credit Manager, before retiring in 1985.  Not being one to sit on the sidelines, Deena had the desire to be surrounded by people and she took a job working in the gift shop at UMass Medical Center in Worcester.  It was there that she could interact with friends, new and old, and bring a smile to someone who needed a friendly face.  She later took a position at Hahnemann Hospital, where again, she could be surrounded by people.  Although she thought she might not like this new job, it was there she met  Ron Carlson, a chef at the hospital, who affectionately nicknamed her “The Dolly”, and would become a close friend  and confidant, and like a second “mother”; and Debby Kewley who became her dear friend and “adopted” daughter, who, during Deena's last years had the mystical ability to appear at her bedside during the most difficult struggles,  to offer support and comfort to her and her family at just the right moment. Deena had worshiped faithfully at the former Saint Margaret Mary Church, until the church closing, when she joined the faith community at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Saint Ann.  She and her husband has enjoyed the former Quinsigamond Yacht Club and were active at the Guild of Assumption College. Deena’s family would like to thank all of the wonderful caregivers at Christopher House, their love and attention made Deena feel at home, in particular Marceau and the staff of the Putnam unit, and  Kathy Desrosier, her 'guardian angel' sent to watch over her.  A special thank you to the Jewish Healthcare Hospice team, their love in her last days brought comfort to her family. Calling Hours for Deena will be held on Thursday, April 28, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.in MERCADATNE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester.  Her Funeral will be on Friday, April 29, departing the funeral home at 9:40 a.m.in procession to a 10 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 24 Mulberry Street, Worcester.  Entombment beside her loving husband, will follow in Notre Dame Mausoleum, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Activity Fund at Christopher House, 10 Mary Scano Drive, Worcester, MA 01605.