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Joan Durkin Obituary
Worcester - Joan (Barry) Durkin died peacefully surrounded by her family on July 17, 2013 after a brief illness.
She leaves her husband of 57 years, John E. Durkin. She is also survived by her six children and eleven grandchildren. This includes her four daughters; Patricia Durkin Franklin of Worcester and her children, Garth, Marisa, and Elise and Elise's fiancé Scott Dolmat-Connell; Maureen Durkin O'Connell of Ipswich, her fiancé Charles Pecevich and her children Ryan and Anne; Eileen M. Barry of Amherst, her husband Kevin Harkins and their children, Michael and Maeve; Christine M. Durkin of Marblehead, her husband John A. Menslage and their children, Grace and Luke; her two sons, Timothy J. Durkin of Venice, California and Brian P. Durkin of Plum Island, his wife Amanda, and children, Connor and Leeanne.
She also leaves her two sisters, Mary B. Parenteau and Rita B. Bartley, and was pre-deceased by her brother, John T. Barry.
Joan was born in Worcester, the daughter of John J. Barry and Susan A. (Petty) Barry. She was a graduate of St. Peter's High School, Class of 1949; Worcester State Teachers College, Class of 1953 and received her Master's in Education degree from Worcester State in 1956. She taught in the Worcester Public Schools before leaving to raise her family.
She was a member of the Guild of Our Lady of Providence, Friday Afternoon Club, Emerald Club and a long-time member of Blessed Sacrament Parish where she served on the Parish Council, chaired the Religious Education Board, taught Religious Education classes and served as a lector for many years.
Calling Hours will be held from 4pm-8pm, Friday July 19, 2013 at Callahan and Fay Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street, Worcester. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 11AM at Blessed Sacrament Church, 551 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Anne Durkin O'Connell Autism Support Fund c/o The Institution for Savings, Depot Square, Ipswich, MA 01938.
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Memories and Condolences
for Joan Durkin
Roachie
July 17, 2021
Dear Red & Family
Seven years have passed. My deepest sympathy. God oftentimes picks the brightest and most beautiful first. Last time I saw you both was on a Friday at Coral Seafood on Green Street. I was with my red-haired grandchildren & wife. You two got a kick out of talking to them.
Since then you have lost the beautiful Christine. Here I pray you to all be well and stay well through these terrible times. God Bless you John and all the kids. - Roachie
July 27, 2013
John,
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I am sorry I did not see until too late the calling hours. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bob Salvatelli
Francine Lampros-Klein
July 23, 2013
Dear Dr. Durkin:
I was so sorry to hear about Mrs. Durkin's passing. My deepest sympathy go out to you and your family.
Indira Siorida Camarena
July 21, 2013
Condolences to our professor Christine and her family
Dear Christine,
On behalf of the LL.M 026 program we would like to send our condolences to you and your family. We want you to know that you are in our thoughts and we are praying for your mother to rest in peace.
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July 21, 2013
Condolences to our professor Christine and her family from Masato
Dear Christine,
As one of representatives of my classmates, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to you and your family. I was so very sad to hear about the death of your mother.
Please let my classmates and me know whether there is anything we can do to help during this difficult time. I hope you and your family will recover from your sorrows.
I'm praying your mother's soul may rest in peace.
July 21, 2013
Participants of the 026 LLM Program at Boston University
July 20, 2013
John,
Please accept my sincere condolences on Joan's passing.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and you family during this sad time.
Sincerely,
Jerry Poulin
July 20, 2013
My deepest sympathies to John and the entire Durkin family.
Diane Eddy, Spencer, MA
July 20, 2013
Dr. During and Family,
Our deepest condolences on the loss of such a beautiful lady, wife, mother, and friend. Mrs. Durkin was always gracious to all. She will be remembered fondly. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Sincerely, Rick and Suzanne Niddrie
Howie Bottomly
July 20, 2013
John and family,
My deepest sympathy on the passing of Mrs. Durkin.
Louis Cornacchioli
July 19, 2013
Dr. Durkin and Family,
My deepest condolences on the passing of Mrs. Durkin. Everytime I met her,she was gracious and friendly.
May God's Peace and Love be with all of you .-Louis J. Cornacchioli
GrandPapa Roach
July 19, 2013
Our most heartfelt condolences go out to John & all the Durkin and Barry Families on the passing of Joan.
The Roach Family
Gerry Dunleavy
July 19, 2013
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to John and the entire Durkin family. Joan was so kind to my mother during her many visits to Worcester. May she rest in peace! Gerry Toni and family
Paul & Martha Gunnerson
July 19, 2013
Dr. Durkin and family, we are so sorry to learn of Joan's passing. She was such an amazing lady. She always had a warm smile and a tender hug to give. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of your family.
Debbie Porter
July 19, 2013
My heartfelt sympathies on the loss of your mother. It's been many years since I've seen her and I don't think she changed much at all. My prayers are with all of you. God Bless!
July 19, 2013
John,
I want to extend my deepest sympathy to you and your family over your loss. Joan was an outstanding member of our Class of "53 at WSTC with her ready smile and positive manner. I was saddened to read of her passing.
John P. Cirelli
Barre. MA
Agnes Doyle
July 19, 2013
Dear John and family,
I am sorry not to be with you at this time. So many wonderful memories of times together, especially my Bill joking with Joan. I will always treasure our friendship. God Bless. Love, Agnes Doyle
Jeff and Beth Formica and Family
July 19, 2013
Deepest Sympathy and prayers to a wonderful family who was and always will be surrounded by the love and guidance of a great mother.
John Collins
July 19, 2013
John and family members
I am sorry for your loss of Joan,wife,mother grandmother. John-I especially extend my sympathy to you as I know from our past conversations how much you loved and admired your wonderful wife,Joan. Please be assured I will keep her in my prayers.
John Collins, Shrewsbury,MA
Kathleen Allard Madaus
July 18, 2013
John, Pat, Tim, Maureen, Eileen, Brian, Christine and families,
My sincere condolences to all of you. She was a beautiful classy lady who knew she had the best family in the world...
John, you and Joan had a wonderful 57 year love affair. You were always there for each other. I went with my Mom, Mary K. King, to your shower before you were married and we all knew you loved each other and would never take one another for granted. She was smart, respectful, selfless, honorable and proud of her accomplished family. She loved being a Mom and knew when the phone rang Dad got the good news and Mom got the bad news! Her love and faith in God sustained her at all times. Her smile and laughter lit up the room. She was able to do what she intended when she married...to be the best wife, Mom and grandmother with the help of God. She will be missed. God rest her noble and nurturing soul.
I am sorry I cannot attend the funeral but will get to Mass in Falmouth for all of you.
Love and prayers,
Kathleen Kelly
July 18, 2013
How many times we, the Harry Kelly Family, felt warmed knowing that the Durkin family was enjoying our home on Longfellow Road for oh so many years.
Sure you all have SO many fond memories there, growing up, as we did.
And later, almost any funeral we attended at Blessed Sacrament, found your Mom as the lector with always that kind and smiling, comforting face.
Bless you all - she is looking down and now blessing all of you. Kathye Kelly for my Mom,Dorothy and brother Harry
Kathleen McManus Burns
July 18, 2013
To our old friends...our hearts and prayers are with you during this time. She was wonderful, kind and caring and as a special friend to my parents....I send this on their behalf as well. We are all saddened very much. Thinking of you with love and prayers.
Bill Hebert
July 18, 2013
John, You have our sympathy. If I were in the city I would be there to add my prayers for Joan.
steve schutzer
July 18, 2013
Pat: Sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. Having read her obituary, I can surely see where her gifts have been passed on to you Pat. Our condolences...
July 18, 2013
Red and Family
I am thinking of you and I know Joan is John and Mom and Dad. My prayers are always with you. I miss her very much.
Love
Rita
Tracy Cooney
July 18, 2013
To all of the Durkin family, please accept our sincere condolences for Mrs. Durkin's passing. I have such wonderful memories of many kindnesses shown to me from adolescence right through adulthood. Mrs. Durkin was always generous and sincere with her "hellos" and interest in life events. She was an amazing woman. I am honored to have had known her. Sincerely, Tracy Burns Cooney
Josephine F. @ UMass
July 18, 2013
Sorry to hear of your loss Dr. Franklin. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Vonny Y
July 18, 2013
Dr Durkin & Durkin family--My deepest sympathy for your recent loss. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. My condolences to all.
July 18, 2013
My deepest sympathy to you John and your family on the loss of your wonderful wife and mother. Joan was always so nice to me wherever we met. My sympathy to Rita and Mary also and their families. Margaret Foley
July 18, 2013
So sorry to hear your sad news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.
Peter Leona Morrison,Ireland
Deirdre Shea
July 18, 2013
I am so sorry for your loss. Mrs. Durkin was such a nice lady. May she rest in peace and as the Irish blessing states ". . .and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand" My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Deirdre D'Arcy Shea
Charlene Morrison
July 18, 2013
So sad to hear about Joan's passing here in Ireland. Loved meeting Joan along with all the Durkins whenever the show would pass through town. My condolences and love to everyone from Ireland x
Joan Fitton
July 18, 2013
Dr. Durkin and Family,
So sorry for your loss. Joan was always very gracious whenever she had to stand by and hear how someone had the perfect plan to fix to WPS. I loved watching the two of you together. May she rest in peace.
Madeline & Norman Abood
July 18, 2013
John and Family, Our sincere sympathy and prayers are with you. Joan was truly a kind lady who touched the hearts of all who knew her. Her warmth & smile will be remembered always. God bless you and give you comfort at this difficult time.
July 18, 2013
Dear Eileen, Christine, Maureen, Tim, Brian, Patty, and Mr. Durkin,
I am so sorry to hear of your mother's death. She was a such a lovely, kind woman. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely, Edith
Jim & Betty Gallagher
July 18, 2013
John & Family
So sorry to read of Joan's passing. You and she will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Carol Rutkiewicz
July 18, 2013
John,family,friends and especially to Christine:
Please accept our heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Christine, your Mother as you know, was a lovely and kind lady. We will miss seeing her and your Dad at the ten o'clock mass at Blessed Sacrament. We always found time before or after mass to ask one another,how you and your family were or how our Sue and her family were doing, and she always had that million dollar smile.
May you and your family find much peace with all your happy memories.
Love,
Mr and Mrs. Joseph Rutkiewicz
Peg Bloomfield
July 18, 2013
Dear Dr. Durkin and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow. Mick and I have relocated to Florida or we would extend our condolences in person.
Peg and Mick Bloomfield
Esther and Al Fitzgerald
July 18, 2013
Our condolences to John and his family.
mary reynolds
July 18, 2013
Dear Dr. Durkin and Family : My condolences on the loss of this wondereful lady. I am sorry I am away and cannot give my thoughts personally - she truly was a lady in every sense of the word. My thought and prayers - Mary Reynolds
Kay Durkin-Donoghue
July 17, 2013
Jackie and family
Tom and I are thinking of you at this very difficult time.
We send our condolences to all of you.
Love and Prayers
Kay and Tom
Margaret Donoghue-Eddy
July 17, 2013
Uncle Jack, Patty, Maureen, Timmy, Eileen, Brian and Christine: Auntie Joan was simply put, a truly wonderful woman in so many ways. We'll miss her very much, especially her Irish Bread and the wonderful Scotcharoos....RIP Auntie Joan. Margaret, Bill, Brian and Brendan
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