In Memory of Kay D. Burgess

Obituary

Kay Louise (Drake) Burgess of New Hartford, NY passed away suddenly and peacefully on Friday, March 7, 2025 at the age of 85.

Kay was born October 15, 1939 in Sayre, PA to Harry and Charlotte Drake.

Kay earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Fredonia State University and a Master’s degree in education from Buffalo State University. Kay married the love of her life, Richard Burgess, on June 27, 1959. She and her husband lived in Lockport, NY, where they raised two children, and Kay worked for Lockport City School District. Kay taught grades second through sixth during her career with the district, and retired from the middle school as a sixth-grade social studies teacher in 1995.

After retirement, she spent much time traveling the world with her husband. They visited hundreds of cities across all seven continents. Kay volunteered at the Niagara County Historical Society, and Emmanuel United Methodist Church. She enjoyed music, book clubs, church choir, and community chorus and was a skilled artist in Tuscarora Indian bead work. Kay enjoyed performing, whether it was in front of a classroom, as a character for the historical society, or on stage. She last appeared on stage in a 2014 in the musical Titanic at Robert Morris University in a production directed by her daughter where she shared the stage with two of her grandchildren.

In 2015, Kay moved to New Hartford to be closer to family. There, she became a generous member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica.

Kay was predeceased by her parents, her brother Harry “Biff” Drake, her sister Helen Basl, and her husband.

She is survived by her children Barbara Lefebvre and husband Jack of Ambridge, PA, Daniel Burgess and wife Anne of New Hartford, NY, and Gabriel Jaime " Jimmy" Castillo and wife Adrianna of Coral, NY; grandchildren Bennett Lefebvre, Johnna Lefebvre, Madelyn Burgess, and Alexander Burgess; along with several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Service will be held Thursday, March 13, at 11:00 am at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica at 10 Higby Road; Utica, NY 13501. A celebration of Kay’s life will be scheduled for later this spring at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Lockport, NY. Arrangements are with Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services, 13 Oxford Rd., New Hartford.

Online messages of sympathy may be left at: www.fwefh.com