Born November 24, 1932 in Lexington, Kentucky, Carolyn often reminisced that she was the apple of her daddy's eye. She fondly recalled the funny antics that she and her cousins experienced growing up together. She never missed watching the Kentucky Derby horse races and still dearly loved her hometown.
Carolyn attended St. Catherine's Academy and later Cardone Boarding School in an effort, she mused, to tame her free spirit. She graduated from Nazareth School of Nursing and worked at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington. She met Bob Burdette while he was an engineering student at the University of Kentucky. (Go Wildcats!) They wed December 29, 1954 at St. Peter's Church and soon after moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where Bob worked for U.S. Steel.
Carolyn dedicated herself to raising her and Bob's eight children. She returned to the operating room at Lloyd Nolan once her children were older, and she formed close friendships with her fellow workers and loved her job. While there, she became involved with unionizing the nurses. During a recent hospitalization, one of the nurses laughingly informed the family that she had tried to assemble the nurses on the unit to give them tips on how to unionize so her passion continued.
Carolyn was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. On holidays and special occasions, she insisted on hosting huge family get-togethers and prepared delicious feasts for all to enjoy.
Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, Nora Ready Reynolds and Joseph Grant, and her sister, Diane Howell. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Robert Burdette; her infant daughter, Mary Sue; her sons, Joe and Scott; and her grandchild, Garrick Burdette. Despite all of the many losses during her lifetime, her devotion to her Catholic faith and the Blessed Mother from whom she drew strength never wavered. She influenced many conversions to the Catholic faith by her example and persuasion.
Carolyn cherished her remaining friends and family and never hesitated to offer her sage advice and many opinions. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Mary Anne Burdette (Joe); her children, Mark Burdette, Keith Burdette, Lisa Mullane (Dan), Paul Burdette, and Susan Hooten (Chris); grandchildren, Jennifer Crowson (Chad), Somer Burdette, Michael Mullane (Chelsey), Danny Mullane, Caitlyn Mullane, Jarron Burdette (Brandy), and Zachary, Lauren and Mia Hooten; as well as great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Amelia Crowson, Eliana Hernandez, and Lucille and Matilda Burdette.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church on Cahaba Valley Road / Hwy 119 in Birmingham, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am. The brief gravesite committal service will be at Southern Heritage Cemetery in Pelham, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
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