Doris Murphy Durkin

(Asbury Park Press)

DORIS MURPHY
DURKIN
AGE: 80 WALL
Doris Murphy Durkin, 80, of Wall, passed away Wednesday, April 29, 2009, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Kearny, she had lived in the Shore area since 1950 in Belmar, Manasquan and for the past 44 years in Wall Township. Mrs. Durkin was a parishioner of St. Mark's Church, Sea Girt and a member of the Altar Rosary Society of St. Mark's. She was an avid bridge player and was the founder of the St. Stephen's Green Bridge Club, Spring Lake Heights. She was a member of the Atlantic Club and the Manasquan River Yacht Club, where she was a champion sailor in the Powder Puff League. Mrs. Durkin was a Charter member of the Red Oak Women's Club, Wall; the Neighborhood Chairwoman for the Brownie and Girl Scouts at St. Catharine's Parish, St. Denis Parish, Manasquan and the Manasquan Public Schools as well as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts at St. Denis Parish and St. Catharine's & St. Margaret's Parish when her children were younger. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughter's of America, Courts St. Catharine's and St. Denis. Mrs. Durkin had been extremely active during the 1970's and 1980's in Monmouth County Democratic politics. In 1974, she was a staff member on Governor Cahill's election campaign committee and was an integral part of his inauguration planning committee. She was the Asbury Park local office administrator for NJ State Assemblywoman Gertrude Berman. Since 1974, she was a Monmouth County Election Board Worker for District #4, Wall Township. Mrs. Durkin was a teacher's aide at the Old Mill School in Wall Township. From 1976 until 1996, she worked at Steinbach's Department Store, first in Asbury Park and then in Ocean Township
Mrs. Durkin was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Richard J. Durkin; and her daughter, Doris Elizabeth Durkin. Surviving are her devoted children and their spouses, R. Patrick and Judy Durkin, Matthew Ward and Laurie Durkin, all of Wall, Molly and Michael Berkowitz of Neptune, and Tara Durkin Rochford of Chicago, Ill.; her dear sister, Elizabeth Murphy Durkin of Essex Fells; her six grandchildren, Erin Melissa, Brian Kelly, Matthew Ward Jr., Morgan Taylor, Maeve Riley Durkin, and Daniel Hugh Berkowitz, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 2 and 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at the O'Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Highway 35 at New Bedford Road, Wall. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 4 at St. Rose R.C. Church, Belmar. Burial will follow in St. Catharine's Cemetery, Wall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wall Township First Aid and Rescue Squad, 1900 Monmouth Blvd., Wall.