Melencia S. Burke

Melencia Simon Dingle Pangan “Miling” Beloved Mother, Wife, and Friend. It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Melencia S. Burke, a proud wife and mother, who peacefully joined her late husband, Ronald C. Burke, while in her home on May 6, 2025 at the age of 78 years. Melencia was born in Manila, Philippines on April 22, 1947 and from an early age, she also embodied the value of service, dedication, and keen business acumen. She was a farmer, owner and manager of a store and restaurant, and a produce vendor. She came to Subic Bay Naval Base at the insistence of a friend for a better opportunity to support her children. It was then when her natural beauty was first noticed by our father, who was stationed there as a Chief Petty Officer. They were later married and had three daughters. She graduated from Tarlac High School and received multiple diplomas in Pre-Master Tailoring (1974) and Dressmaking at the Artistic Technical Institute (1980) and in Master Tailoring (1981) at the Central Luzon Institute of Technology in Olongapo City. In August 1981, she settled in Delaware where her husband helped jumpstart her alterations business. From there, her business grew along with her career as an expert tailor at various high-end department stores, including Anderson Little and Lord & Taylor. Notably, some of her earliest personal clients in the 1980s and 1990s were Tom Carper and Mr. Joseph Biden. After retirement, she was an avid volunteer at the Filipino American Heritage & Arts Museum. In 2001, she was elected Press Relations Officer. She believed that any Filipino activity would be successful if there is free food. Therefore, her tireless food service contributions were recognized with the Jefferson Award by the museum. She is survived by her daughters living in the United States: Severina Kluizenaar, Imelda Meditz, and Antonia Burke. She is also survived by her children living in the Philippines and Canada: Tholits Pangan, Moises Pangan, George Pangan, Abraham Pangan, Ricardo Pangan Jr., and Belina (Pangan) Manuel, their spouses, grandchildren, great grand children, half-sisters and half-brothers as well as her stepson Ronald II, friends, colleagues, and neighbors who will forever cherish her memory and the values she instilled in them. Melencia is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald of 50 years, her parents Marciano Simon and Severina Dingle, and Fely Salvador, a sister in the Philippines. To honor her legacy of dedication to others, good humor, and generosity, the family would like to remember and celebrate Melencia's life by requesting that donations be made in her memory to the Pilipino American Heritage Association of Delaware (PAAD) or any charity of choice. Meg paynawa kang payapa [May you rest in peace in Kapampangan] Paynawa na kang mapayapa [May you rest in peace in Tagalog] Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Friday, May 16, 2025 from 11 AM – 12 PM at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home, 635 Churchmans Rd., Newark, DE 19702. Light refreshments will be provided during the visitation time. A service in celebration of Melencia’s life will then follow beginning at 12 PM EST. For those unable to attend services for Melencia in person, a live webcast link will be available beginning at 12 PM EST. To view her services online please use the following link: https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1360746. For directions or to send online condolence please visit www.stranofeeley.com. Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home 302-731-5459

Melencia S. Burke

April 22, 1947 - May 6, 2025

Explore Obituaries &
Upcoming Services