Maeve Burke Shugrue of Southampton Dies April 18

Maeve Burke Shugrue of Southampton died on April 18. She was 65.

She was born in New York City on January 28, 1959. Her early years were spent in Muttontown, New York, and she summered in Long Beach, where she acquired a life-long love of the ocean and the beach.

In her teenage years, the family moved to Yaphank. She attended high school at both Mercy High School in Riverhead and Longwood High School in Middle Island.

She met her husband, Ted Shugrue, in the professional world, where she worked as a publicist in the entertainment industry. As a young couple, they had a whirlwind romance. They traveled frequently to Europe, attending the Cannes Film Festival and various other industry events annually.

They would soon marry in a ceremony in the Chapel of the Choir at the Vatican in Rome, honeymoon in Positano with a reception on the East River in New York City upon their return.

The couple lived an exciting life, her family said.

Originally based in New York City, where Ned Shugrue was born, they relocated to Pacific Palisades, California, for his work. During those years, they spent summers in Southampton. This gave the entire Burke family incentive to gather on eastern Long Island annually to be together. Eventually, the family get-togethers became known as Burkefest; a long weekend celebration that continues to this day.

In 1999, the now family of five — with Charlie and Justin having been born in Los Angeles — would return to New York full-time, taking up residence in Rye, New York. During those years, she was the consummate wife, mother and hostess. She had a great eye for beautiful things and design, her family said, and she loved to cook and was talented at it.

She enjoyed hosting the extended family for holidays and the milestone celebrations of baptisms, holy communions, confirmations, graduations and birthdays. They were happy days, her family said, but when her husband died 12 years ago, life changed radically for her and her sons.

She then dedicated herself, even more so, to parenting single-handedly her young teens. During this time, there were a number of moves until she eventually decided to return to Southampton by the sea where so much happiness had been lived.

Yet again, she created a beautiful home for her sons to flourish, and a special place where family could gather. Family members said they were heartened that she got to see the boys transform into the fine, hard-working, industrious, educated and successful young men they have become. She was their “rock,” mother, mentor, cheerleader, confidante and counselor. She loved them unconditionally, her family said, and was proud of them.

As a sibling, she was special, kind and compassionate, with a keen sense of humor, and so much grace. She would light up a room when she entered.

Her family expressed gratitude that she took on the role of primary caregiver to her recently-deceased mother.

Her life not only impacted her family, but wherever she went she created deep and loyal friendships and had the gift of keeping those relationships long term.

“Our loss of Maeve in our lives is devastating,” her family said. “She will live in our hearts forever.”

She was predeceased by her parents, Eileen Mayer Burke and Joseph J. Burke; and her husband J. Edward “Ted” Shugrue.

She is survived by her children, J. Edward “Ned” and his wife Laura Buck, Charles G. and Justin P. Shugrue; her eight siblings and their families, Joseph J. Burke (Kristena Prater) of Aspen, Colorado, Cathleen Mason (Thomas) of Locust Valley, New York, Eileen Giotis (James) of Howell, New Jersey, Jamesine Burke Clark of Ridgewood, New Jersey, Maureen (David Jaffe) of Eastport, James J. Burke (Joan Goodman) of Long Beach, Justin J. Burke (Gretchen Mueller) of Carmel, California, and Deirdre Burke Dentel of Eastport; 22 nieces and nephews; and 13 grandnieces and grandnephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 1, at 11 a.m. at the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton. The service will be live-streamed on the basilica’s Facebook page. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Southampton. A brief reception hosted by the family will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a donation be made in her name to Hamptons Community Outreach, P.O. Box 838, Bridgehampton, NY 11932 (hamptonscommunityoutreach.org).

Arrangements provided by O’Connell Rothwell Funeral Home of Southampton.