Photo courtesy of McNally & Watson Funeral & Cremation Service - Clinton
Clinton, Massachusetts
Apr 23, 1926 – Aug 1, 2013 (Age 87)
LANCASTER
Barbara Anne (Thompson) Durling, 87, formerly of 2121 Main St., died Thursday, August 1, 2013, in the Golden Living Center, Fitchburg, after an illness.
She leaves two sons: John R. Durling and his wife, Doneen, of Winchendon, and Gerrett L. Durling and his wife, Judy, of Groton; two daughters: Sheryl Durling of Rutland, and Samantha L. Morgan of Boxborough; 9 grandchildren;5 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Hubert R. "Ray" Durling, Jr., who died in 1993. Two sisters, Constance T. Warwick and Martha H. Bensel, also predeceased her.
Barbara was born in Arlington and raised in Lexington, daughter of John Hildreth and Constance C. (Critchenson) Thompson. She was a graduate of Lexington High School, Class of 1943, and Green Mountain College, VT, Class of 1945. In 1966, she and Ray settled in their family's old homestead in Lancaster.
For 25 years, she worked as a Secretary at Congregation Agudat Achim, Leominster, retiring in 1995.
Barbara was a member of the First Church of Christ Unitarian, Lancaster, and a life-member of both the Mayflower Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Over the years, she did volunteer work at Emerson Hospital, the Bedford VA, and the Winchendon Veterans Service Center. She enjoyed cooking, rug braiding, and knitting. An animal lover, she was known for keeping ducks and rabbits. Her greatest joy was spending time with family – especially gathering all four generations around the dinner table on Sundays and holidays.
Private funeral service and burial will take place at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the First Church of Christ Unitarian, P.O. Box 194, Lancaster, MA 01523, or to the Lancaster Fire Department, c/o Francine Moody, PO Box 96, Lancaster, MA 01523. McNally & Watson Funeral Home, 304 Church St., Clinton, is directing arrangements.
Remembering my beautiful Grandmother is a joy. She taught me to knit, pick berries and tend to ducks and geese. It has been a while since I saw you Nana Barbie, but I will see you again. Until then.
KIMBERLEYANNE MORGAN
August 05, 2021 | Family
Beloved Grandmother. Taught me to knit, a love of nature, what berries I can eat, what to put on poison ivy, what poison ivy looks like. The list goes on. I miss you,I love you and I will forever hold you close in my heart.
Kimberley Rico
August 21, 2013 | Sterling, MA
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Maureen Sandos, Geraldine Temple
August 15, 2013 | Gardner, Shrewsbury, MA
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Ella Sharron
August 15, 2013 | Gardner, MA
Expressing deepest sympathy to John & Doneen, Gerrett & Judy and the rest of the Durling families at this time. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Jodi (Wells) Johnson
August 13, 2013 | Lancaster, MA
I enjoyed very much getting to know you mother and grandmother through giving her rides to church. We swapped a few books and she shared her stories with me about her historical home that she was very proud of.
Our thought and prayers are sent to your family at this time of loss. If there is anything we can do here at First Church please let our office know.
Sue Billings, friend and chair of Caring Committee at First Church
August 13, 2013
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time. I have learned through our DAR chapter about the many wonderful things your mother has done working with veterans and want you to know how much that is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Brenda Morse
Capt. John Joslin Jr. Chapter, NSDAR
Brenda Morse
August 11, 2013 | Sutton, MA
There will never be another Nana Barbie. She was the grandmother who made sure there was a hand-made stocking over the fireplace for everyone at Christmas, and spent hours creating Sunday feasts for the family. Remember picking blackberries, chasing the ducks in mucking boots, and line-dried fresh sheets. Remember straight sneaker laces, Furbies, Harry Potter books and movies, sleep overs, hundreds of Beanie Babies, birthdays, birds, trumpet vines and tulips with their heads nipped off by the...
Doneen Durling
August 09, 2013 | Winchendon, MA
Warmest thoughts and deep condolences to Ms. Durling's family from a sister DAR in Lancaster.
Winona Winkler Wendth
August 09, 2013 | Lancaster, MA
