Mary Berke Dalrymple Howard

Mom is such a small word for someone who meant so much to so many. Mary Berke Dalrymple was born in Broadway, NC; the daughter of Clyde and Eunice Dalrymple. Mary Berke grew up on the family tobacco farms with her two brothers, Bill and Bob, whose families still reside there today. Mary Berke graduated from Peace College in Raleigh and attended Richmond Polytechnic Institute, known today as VCU. Later she graduated from Norfolk General Hospital School of Practical Nursing and was devoted to the infants at Kings Daughters Children’s Hospital for many years. Mary Berke was known to take in hurt and abandoned animals over the years. Whenever one of her grandchildren visited they loved playing nurse to the injured birds. Mary Berke married Richard Olin Howard, an adoring man from Ocracoke Island, NC in July 1943. He was a student at North Carolina State University and the roommate of her brother Bob. Olin soon entered the US Army Corp of Engineers and shipped to Europe for World War II. Her first daughter was born while Olin was in Europe and so they began their family life apart with Mary and her daughter living on the farm. After the war, Mary Berke and Olin lived an adventurous and loving life together, relocating many times over the years; finally settling in Portsmouth, VA. They had two beautiful and doting daughters; Mary “Dallie” Howard Turner of Ocracoke, NC and Lee Howard Sivertson of Chesapeake. She taught her children and grandchildren to have fun, be silly and enjoy their lives every day. Mary Berke leaves behind four grandchildren: Sharon Turner Stepahin of Apex, NC; Janette Turner of Chesapeake, VA; Jared Sivertson of Jackson, Mississippi, and Grant Sivertson of Chesapeake, VA, as well as five great grandchildren: Alexandria, Samantha and Cole Stepahin; and Emily and Benjamin Shearer. Mary Berke and Olin had a long and loving life together until his passing in 1983; she read his many love letters and talked of him fondly until the day she died. After a long, challenging battle with Alzheimer’s, Mary Berke is re-united with her devoted husband, parents, brothers, and friends. Her contagious smile will be missed by all who loved her dearly. A memorial service to celebrate Mary Berke will be held at Loving Funeral Home on Saturday August 26, 2017 at 2pm. Donations can be made to Salem Presbyterian Church, NC, 3554 Avents Ferry Road, Sanford, NC, 27330, Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), and Wildlife Rescue, PO Box 1148, Ocracoke Island, NC, 27960. A special thank you to all who supported Mary Berke and our family: Mary’s “Adopted Family” at Bon Secours Province Place of Maryview, the care team with Interim Hospice; the staff at Maryview Medical Center and the special friends who provided endless support throughout our journey.

Mary Berke Dalrymple Howard

August 15, 2017