Eileen Hurst Burkhardt

Eileen Hurst Burkhardt age 78, died peacefully on Saturday morning, February 27, 2021 at home in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Eileen had a long-term illness and was cared for by her loving husband.

Mrs. Burkhardt was born February 6, 1943 in New Orleans, LA to her parents Harry and Marietta Hurst of Destrehan Louisiana. She graduated from LSU in 1964. Along the way, she acquired a Master’s Degree from USM and an RN degree from MGCCC.

She married Wesley Burkhardt, Jr. in 1965. The Burkhardt family lived in Louisiana, as well as Hattiesburg, Jackson and Natchez Mississippi before settling in Ocean Springs, MS.

During her lifetime Eileen had a fulfilling 35-year career of service. She worked in two professions which she loved: first as an elementary school teacher and then as a registered nurse in a doctor’s office setting. Her work and her life revolved around teaching and community service. She and her husband Wesley built and worked in their DNA and Medical Genetics testing laboratory that they developed together in downtown Ocean Springs.

Eileen is survived by her best friend and husband of over 55 years, Wesley Burkhardt, Jr.; their daughter Melissa Moore (Eric Moore); two wonderful grandchildren, Calder and Elodie Moore; and sisters, Marcia Triche, Terry Holmes, and Andy Ankesheiln.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Marietta Hurst.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Ocean Springs, MS. Friends may visit one-hour prior to service. A second visitation will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Desterhan, LA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 p.m. that will by live streamed on Bradford-O’Keefe’s Facebook page. Interment will follow at St. Charles Cemetery. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the Burkhardt family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Eileen’s memory to St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School (where Eileen attended school), 13396 River Road, Destrehan, LA 70047, attention Ronald Rodrigue, or donations to St. Vincent DePaul’s Community Pharmacy (where Eileen was a volunteer for many years), 715 Division St., Biloxi, MS 39530 would be greatly appreciated.