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December 18, 2006

Oldest Rhode Islander dies at 107

EAST PROVIDENCE -- Mae Burdon, Rhode Island’s oldest resident, died today.

Burdon, who celebrated her 107th birthday last June, died today at the Linn Health Care Center in East Providence.

Burdon worked at an insurance office into her 70s, drove a car into her 90s and played piano until she was 106. A mild stroke she suffered then made it difficult to play the church hymns she loved. For many years she was the accompanist for the church school at Trinity United Methodist Church of Providence.

Another stroke last month took a toll on Burdon, who was a 36-year survivor of breast cancer. But even then, she showed the same positive spirit her friends and family had come to appreciate.

“Up until about a few weeks ago, she was still going to exercise class every morning,” said her step-grandson, Robert McCaughey, of Warwick. She attended a hymn sing, in her honor, days after the recent stroke, greeting the many people who came to see her.

A memorial service will be held at the nursing home at 10 a.m. on Jan. 20.

-- Journal staff writer Richard Salit

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 4:41 PM | Permalink

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