Selena Burke

Selena Rosammal Burke, 27, passed away at home in Westminster, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, on Monday August 15, 2022.

Selena was born on September 27, 1994, in Augusta, Georgia, and lived in Athens, Georgia, as an infant. She then lived in Columbia, Missouri, before moving with her parents to Severna Park, Maryland. She graduated from Severna Park High School in 2011 and Frostburg State University in 2017 with a dual degree in English and Ethnobotany. She received her Master's Degree in Plant Biology from the University of California-Riverside in 2021.

Selena is survived by her mother, Mary Ratnaswamy (Graham Smith-deceased), father and stepmother, Vincent and Heide Burke, stepsister Elizabeth Dzwonczyk (Dave), two step-brothers, Bill and Dan, and her grandmothers Beatrice Ratnaswamy and Peg McGonigle, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her most cherished friend, Jaimie Tarnai, was a wonderful friend who shared her life with Selena.

Selena will be remembered for her adventurous nature, avid interest in skiing and hiking, and compassion for many causes including food security, abuse prevention, global justice and support for the LGBTQI+ community. She was an avid concert and festival participant who loved to visit Red Rocks Amphitheatre.  She loved cats and rescued her own cat, Althea.

She will be  remembered and missed by all who love her.