Obituary: Adele Burnham

Adele S. Burnham, age 79, of Birmingham, Ala., died Wednesday, April 11, 2018, after a battle with esophageal and brain cancer.

Adele loved to travel with her husband. Cruises were her favorite way to see a new country, learn about its culture and meet people. As she traveled the world, her favorite cruises always coincided with a beach excursion. She never left a country without making new friends who later became travel companions on her adventures. She had a profound love for family and friends. She was known for “adopting” couples so they could have a place to spend the holidays and would not be alone.

Adele was a congregant of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, a member of the Sisterhood and a life member of Hadassah. She attended Shabbat services nearly every Saturday until she fell ill. A loving wife, an attentive mother and a doting grandmother, Adele was known to family and friends alike for her candor, chocolate-chip pound cake, and love of needlepoint, musicals, reading and a good cup of coffee. All these attributes and others she exemplified will be missed.

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Born in Birmingham on April 18, 1938, to the late Jacob Sidney Sarasohn and Sarah Euchvitz Sarasohn, Adele was the oldest of their two children. During World War II the family moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where her father served in the U.S. Navy. After the war the Sarasohns moved briefly to Mountain Brook, Ala., before settling in Bessemer, Ala., where she attended grade school. She graduated from Bessemer High School, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society. She was a member of the thespian society, the pep club and honor rolls. She attended religious school at Temple Beth-El in Birmingham, where she was confirmed. She briefly attended the University of Alabama before moving to Atlanta, where she met her husband, Alan Burnham.

Adele’s first career was in mortgage banking. She later parlayed her gift of gab and experience into a notable real estate career. She worked for Northside Realty, Prudential and Coldwell Banker; she was a member of the Million Dollar Club.

Adele is survived by her beloved husband of 51 years, Alan Burnham; a brother, Howard Sarasohn; children Stephanie (Burnham) Aftergut and son-in-law Brian Aftergut, Laurie Burnham, and Dr. Jeremy Burnham and daughter-in-law Dr. Danielle Dever; and grandchildren Ethan Aftergut, Matthew Aftergut and Mack Burnham. Adele will never be forgotten as long as there are beaches to visit, songs to be sung, books to read and cups of coffee to enjoy.

Sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. A graveside service will be held Friday, April 13, at 11 a.m. at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.