Regina E. (Byrne) Burkinshaw, 100, of South Yarmouth passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of July 28, just one month shy of her 101^st birthday.  Jeanie, as she was known, was the youngest daughter of Annie (Morley) and Patrick Byrne of Co. Mayo, Ireland and Dorchester, MA.  Jeanie was a proud Irish citizen.  She was preceded in death by her husband Walter “Buddy” Burkinshaw, her eldest daughter Regina Burrows of Scituate, her grandson Cameron Haig of Marstons Mills, her parents and her siblings Mary Burke, John, Vincent and Joseph Byrne and many close friends, particularly her lifelong best friends Thelma Collins, Margie Sullivan and Jackie Maguire.

Jeanie grew up in the Clam Point section of Dorchester steps from Malibu Beach where she spent her summers with her large group of friends.  Jeanie’s love for the ocean was always evident as she was never far from a beach.  Whether it was swimming at Malibu, being a daredevil and jumping off the Malibu bridge, heading out in the Willys to Great Point on Nantucket or going down Bass River with Buddy to fish for Blues or Stripers, she was always within the sound of the ocean.

Jeanie graduated from Girl’s High School in Boston’s South End and then went on to graduate from The Boston Clerical School.  During WWII Jeanie worked as an executive secretary for the Hersey Company in South Boston.  Jeanie and Buddy married after Buddy returned from WWII, they settled in Dorchester and then in Braintree where she and Buddy raised four children, Regina, Ann, Peter and Mary.  Jeanie devoted her time to being a full-time mother and was very active in church and community activities.  Following Buddy’s death in 1977 Jeanie retired to their summer home on Bass River where she continued being active in the community.  For many years, Jeanie volunteered for Yarmouth’s Meals on Wheels program, she was an active member of the Yarmouth Women’s Club and the Scarlett O’Hatters Red Hat Society.

In her youth Jeanie was an accomplished swimmer, competing and winning many open water swim competitions.  She often participated in higher age categories due to her skill.  The breaststroke was her specialty.  Jeanie was very proud of the fact she earned her senior Red Cross Lifesaving badge at age 14 and spent her summers as a lifeguard for the City of Boston.  Always an athlete, Jeanie also played softball and had a “wicked” pitch that she showed off to her grandchildren.  She walked several miles every day well into her mid-nineties, she began practicing yoga in the early 1960’s before it was a thing.  Her secret to a long life was to keep moving and her favorite response was to most things was to “take it easy” and “go for a swim.”

Jeanie is survived by her children, Peter Burkinshaw of South Yarmouth and West Roxbury, Ann O’Sullivan of Sagamore Beach and Mary Burkinshaw of Marstons Mills.  She is also survived by her grandchildren, Meaghan, Sarah, Christopher and Conor and great grandchildren, Aidan, Phoebe, Ethan and William as well as many nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family in Ireland.

Friends are relatives are invited to call at the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth, MA  on Monday, August 1 from 3:00 – 5:00  P.M.. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 2 at 10:00 A.M. in Saint Pius X Church, Station Ave., South Yarmouth, MA.  Burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury, MA to follow.

In lieu of flowers Jeanie requests that you make a donation to The Animal Rescue League of Boston in memory of her childhood dog, an Airedale named Brownie and in memory of all the ponies, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and other pets that Jeanie loved throughout her life.

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