Florence Burckhardt Mackie

Florence Burckhardt Mackie passed peacefully Thursday, January 20, 2011, at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township, NJ after a brief illness. She was 92.

Florence was born October 19, 1918, in Philadelphia, a descendant of Isaac Norris, who was Mayor in the city in 1724.

Florence graduated the Philadelphia High School for Girls and Drexel University, with a B.S. in home economics. She taught at the Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf and later worked as an instructor for the federal government.

In 1940, she married Robert Cameron Mackie, and they lived first in Media, PA, and then on Long Island. Florence moved to Kingwood Township in 1964, where she and Robert raised sheep on their small farm.

Her only child, daughter Anne Mackie Errico (now deceased), was the former postmaster of Sergeantsville.

A lifelong lover of animals, Florence not only tended for her beloved sheep and beagles but never turned away a stray. She made sure the wildlife around her farm was well fed, especially during the winter months. Florence also supported several animal charities, as well as Native American causes.

Florence is survived by husband Robert; brothers Jack Burckhardt of Philadelphia and Fred Burckhardt of Fort Worth, Texas; grandsons Matthew Errico of Lambertville and Marcus Errico of Pasadena, CA and great-grandchildren Lucas and Annelise Errico, also of Pasadena.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hunterdon Humane Animal Shelter, 576 Stamets Road, Milford, NJ 08848.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will follow in Rosemont Cemetery, Rosemont, NJ. Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the Funeral Home. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.