Obituary of Loretta Clara Burdess Dreyer

    Centenarian, Loretta Clara Burdess-Dreyer, age 100, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Pensacola, Florida.

  Born June 9, 1922, to Francis and Dorothy Little (Behl), Loretta grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where she was raised Christian and attended Catholic parochial schools. Loretta graduated from Hallahan Catholic High School for girls in 1940. Through most of her formative years, she saw first hand the hardships of the Great Depression. Only six days before the entry of the United States into World War 11, at the age of nineteen, Loretta married Robert L Burdess of Philadelphia, PA, December 1, 1941. Her new husband, a career military officer, deployed to serve in the U.S. Army in 1942 and did not return until 1945. Loretta and Robert, however, enjoyed many military tours in the United States, Japan and Germany. During their marriage of 39 years, Loretta and Robert had three sons: Lawrence R Burdess of Toano, VA, Rick Burdess (deceased) and Richard L Burdess of Pensacola. FL., four grandchildren; Marsha Maisey of Williamsburg, VA, Christina Hall of Dothan, Al, Angela Burdess (deceased) and William Burdess of Pensacola, Fl. Loretta additionally has six great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.

  Loretta is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Alberta McGough and twin brothers, Raymond and Gerald Littel all of Philadelphia, PA. Additionally, preceded in death by her first husband, Robert and second husband of 13 years, John Dreyer of Vineland, NJ.

  A very loving mother and grandmother, Loretta seldom missed an opportunity to express her love of family. She was an extraordinary cook, usually cooking from scratch and an award winning amateur artist known for her skills in ceramic sculptures; especially those depicting birds. Loretta was also an accomplished Bridge player, rising to nearly the Master level. She truly enjoyed travel and ended her traveling experiences at the age of 89 with a cruise around the world.

  Loretta worked most of her adult life starting as a waitress in downtown Philadelphia; then as an accountant (old pen and pencil ledger style) for most of her career and finally as a Realtor in Atlantic City, NJ.

  Moving to Pensacola, FL in 2004 to be near family she bought a house just in time to experience the devastation of Hurricane Ivan. Loretta has been a resident at the Azalea Trace Retirement Community in Pensacola since 2010 where she made new friends and won at bridge and bingo. The Burdess family extends their most heartfelt appreciation to the entire staff of Azalea Trace for the exceptional care giving to Loretta, especially during the final days of her life.

  Requesting cremation upon her death, her wishes were completed by Family Funeral and Cremation, Pensacola, Fl. A memorial Catholic Mass in honor of Loretta will be said on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, 3131 Hyde Park Rd., Pensacola, Fl 32503. In the last week of June, Loretta will be interred in Greenwood Memorial Park, Millville, NJ, next to her first husband, Robert.

  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org

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