Marie Burge: ¡PRESENTE!
1938-2026
Passionate, dedicated, bright, beautiful and wise are words to describe Marie Burge, a founder and staff member of Cooper institute for over 40 years. Marie passed away on August 10th, 2026.
Pictured above: Marie receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal from Senator Kim Pate in 2025
Marie's spirit of dedication in making this world a better place for everyone was obvious to all who had the privilege of knowing her, working with her and being mentored by her. She left the farm in Five Houses to enter the Sisters of St. Martha in 1958. During her time there she formed friendships that lasted the following 7 decades. She shared many humourous stories of her life from teaching in Kinkora to parish life in Summerside and including her five years as a missionary with the Latin American Mission Program in Dominican Republic. She was one of the founders of Cooper Institute in 1984 and from there she dedicated much of her life to issues such as the care for PEI lands, Proportional Representation and the promotion of a national Basic Income Guarantee. These efforts are an expression of Marie's deep concern and love for her community where no person is ever left behind. She was a prolific letter writer and her letters to the Guardian over the years would easily fill a book.
Her courage is exemplified by the time Marie and her friend Sr. Theresa Currie protected a young man from being executed by the death squads when they hid him in their house in Santo Domingo. The Dominican Republic and the Dominican people held a special place in her heart. She often returned there to renew old friendships and to be inspired by the struggle of those who are dispossessed.
Over the years Marie received many accolades and awards from the community, including the Order of PEI, an honorary degree from UPEI, the inaugural Leo Cheverie Lifetime Achievement Award, the VRC Volunteer Award, the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Award, the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Psychological Association of PEI, the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Survived by sisters Irene Burge, Claire Mullally and Bernadette Rossiter. She was predeceased by her parents Richard Louis and Teresa Burge; her siblings, Alban Burge (Phyllis), Francis Burge (Kay), Mickey Burge (Mary), Noreen Wood (Cyril) and by brothers-in-law John Mullally and Paddy Rossiter. She will be sadly missed by her many nieces and nephews and their children, by her very special friend Mary Murphy, and by many, many other friends.
One of Marie's observations as she entered the Palliative Care unit was how grateful she was to have loved so many people and how she became more aware of this as her life was ending. Many people are endlessly grateful to have been loved by Marie and to have loved her as well.
Marie Burge: ¡PRESENTE!