Quiet Dignity, Grace … And Delicious Humor
RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
D
r. Andrea B. Page had a magnif-
icent spirit and a loving heart
that shone through all her
remarkable endeavors: talented lawyer,
devoted teacher and caring mentor,
and consummate Jewish wife, mother
and grandmother to her fortunate fam-
ily. Andrea, who lived in Bloomfield
Hills, passed away on May 13, 2018, at
age 76.
Born in Detroit, she graduated from
Mumford High School, after which
she went to the University of Michigan
before transferring to Wayne State
University (WSU). There she completed
her undergraduate studies, along with
a law degree. Always striving to learn
more and realize greater accomplish-
ments, she earned a Ph.D. in anatomy
and cell biology from WSU Medical
School, where she became a highly
regarded professor known for her com-
passion and dedication to her students,
individually and as a group.
In 1961, 19-year-old Andrea Burdick
met eligible bachelor and successful
lawyer David Page. It was three years
before the two reconnected, and this
time they knew they had found their
soulmates. Together they created a
beautiful home and raised three chil-
dren, imbuing them with Jewish values
that included helping others and car-
ing for one another. The Pages loved to
travel, especially to the English coun-
tryside, and their home was filled with
antiques and artifacts lovingly collect-
ed during their many excursions.
A community leader
active in numerous proj-
ects and organizations,
David supported Andrea
unconditionally in her
educational and career
goals, and she was his
biggest champion.
“I learned so many
things from her … how
to be a good human
being, how to let things
go, how to wake up
Page
every day and look at
the beauty in life,” said her
daughter, Sarah. “She was the most
beautiful soul I have ever met, the
brightest, happiest, most appreciative
person. She smiled every day of her
life.”
Andrea’s luminosity and infectious
warmth touched everyone she met,
and she would do anything for those
she cared about, never wanting her
loved ones to feel pain or discomfort.
Despite her impressive accomplish-
ments, her husband, children and
grandchildren were her greatest source
of joy. She stayed abreast of her grand-
children’s activities and swelled with
pride at their accomplishments, no
matter how small.
“Quiet dignity and grace” were the
words used by Andrea’s son Jason to
describe his mother. “She had a perfect
blend of wisdom and sincerity with
a subtle undercurrent of delicious
humor,” he said.
Andrea loved books
and enjoyed discuss-
ing the subtleties of the
English language.
“She took delight in
the turn of a phrase and
perfect timing of a clever
joke,” said Jason.
As a lifelong learner,
Andrea was a natural
teacher, sharing her
knowledge with passion
and enthusiasm and
providing one-on-one
mentoring to students who
needed her help. She refused to indulge
in gossip, hold a grudge or make snap
judgments, and she listened thought-
fully to people from all sides of the
political spectrum. She maintained her
wonderful outlook on life and never
complained or felt sorry for herself,
even when facing illness and other dif-
ficult challenges.
Her son Mark said his mother had
a magical gift for making everyone
she spent time with feel like the most
special person in the world, the center
of her universe. As the family grew,
she welcomed each new addition and
made each feel like part of the family.
She was never afraid to leave her com-
fort zone and encouraged her children
and grandchildren to be comfortable
with their own identities.
Andrea is survived by her cherished
children, Mark Daniel (Pamela Sylvor)
Page, Jason William (the late Jinks
Jervey-Page) Page (and his beloved,
Julie Hoskow) and Sarah Leslie Page;
adored grandchildren, Noah Myles
Page, Benjamin Maxwell “Max” Page,
Maya Raine Page and Sydney Rose
Page; Julie’s children, Shayne and
Aidan Hoskow; dear brother, James W.
Burdick (Judith Rubens Burdick);
nieces and nephews, Amy Strasner,
Laura Rubens Burdick (Alex Hartman)
and Dr. Andrew Rubens Burdick.
She was the beloved wife of the late
David K. Page; devoted daughter of the
late Ben and the late Mary Burdick;
daughter-in-law of the late Milton and
the late Hilda Page; sister-in-law of the
late Nedra Strasner.
Interment wasat Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
directed to the Detroit Riverfront
Conservancy, 600 Renaissance Center,
Suite 1720, Detroit , MI 48243-1802,
(313) 566-8200, www.detroitriverfront.
org/ways-help/make-donation; the
Chamber Music Society of Detroit,
5470 Chene St., Suite 205, Detroit, MI
48211, (313) 246-4250, www.chamber
musicdetroit.org; Children’s Hospital of
Michigan Foundation, 3011 W. Grand
Blvd., Suite 218, Detroit, MI 48202,
(313) 964-6994, chmfoundation.org/
ways-to-help/donate-now; or Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 260, P.O.
Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303,
(248) 642-4260, www.jewishdetroit.org/
donate-online. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel. •
continued on page 64
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May 31 • 2018
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