Name: Calling hours for JAMES J. DURFEE
Start: 2016-01-27T19:00:00.000Z
End: 2016-01-28T00:00:00.000Z
Location: McDonough Funeral Home

DURFEE, James J. (Jack) A lifelong resident of Lowell, Massachusetts, he fought a courageous battle with lung cancer but lost on January 20th, due to complications from surgery. He was married to Carol A. Durfee; together they celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on September 6. Jack was born in Lowell on November 5, 1944, son of the late William and Dorothy Durfee. Jack owned and operated Durfee Plumbing and Heating Company in Lowell for forty years. He served in the Army infantry in the Vietnam War; was a former president of the Greater Lowell Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Association; former Board of Directors member of the Massachusetts Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Association; former member of the Merrimack Valley Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Association, the Lowell VFW, the American Legion, the Lowell Elks, the Ancient York Lodge, the Joseph Webb Lodge, the Boston Council of Royal and Select Master Masons, the Saint Paul's Royal Arch Chapter, the Boston Commandery, the Bektash and Aleppo Shrine (32nd degree), the New Hampshire Court 137 Royal Order of Jesters, the Marco Island (Florida) Shrine Club, and the Naples (Florida) Billikan Club. Jack is survived by three sons, James A. Normandie and his wife, Kelly of Lowell, Joseph E. Normandie and his wife, Michelle of Lowell, and John W. Normandie and his wife, Michelle of Westford; two daughters, Diane L. Poirier and her husband, Paul of Litchfield, NH, and Karen E. Lu and her husband, John of Andover. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren, Jennifer, John, Daniel, Sara, Samantha, and Lilie Normandie, Nicole and Shauna Poirier, Nicole Doyle-Tedford, and Caroline, Jack, and Ben Lu; as well as a great-granddaughter, Aneisa Cruz; and many nieces and nephews. Jack is also survived by two sisters, Diane and her husband, Walter Sullivan of Weymouth and Helen of Lowell; and a brother, Allen Durfee of North Carolina. You are invited to his Calling Hours from 2 until 7 P.M. on Wednesday, January 27 at the McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, LOWELL, MA, 978-458-6816. His Funeral Service will take place in the Funeral Home at 7 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701. Please visit www.mcdonoughfuneralhome.com to send the Family an e-condolence. McDonough Funeral Home 14 Highland Street Lowell 978-458-6816

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Published by Boston Globe from Jan. 23 to Jan. 24, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for JAMES DURFEE

27 Entries

Tyrus Pearson

September 8, 2017

Seeing that hurricane Irma was heading for Florida I decided to look up Jack and wish him luck with the storm. So sorry to hear of his passing. My father and Jack were friends in the army and I had the privilege of meeting Jack and his family in 2010, such a great guy, my condolences to his family.

Michelle Normandie

January 31, 2016

I miss you so much ! Just waiting for you to walk thru the door or ring the phone ! :(

Joe Normandie

January 30, 2016

I love you dad and miss you so much

ron chenevert

January 30, 2016

Another great stunt performed by Jack: Some how he acquired a 40's Cadillac limosine. It is still the nicest car I was ever in. Nice leather seats, huge, would seat 10 comfortably, almost big enough to stand up in. Jack could make the thing backfire. Not just backfire but as loud as a howitzer. When he would drop us off at night he would trigger the backfire, waking up everyone within five hundred feet. If you were fortunate enough to be standing near the rear of the car you could see flame coming out of the exhaust pipe. It looked like a flamethrower with orange and blue flame shooting out 20 or 30 feet, culminating with the huge explosion. The flash lit up quite an area like it was Fenway Park. I remember this quite vividly even after over 50 years and have thought of it many many time. I think some of the neighbors probably thought they were being attacked as light were turned on in houses up and down the street.

Thanks for the memory, Jack, I will always remember and crack up.

Ron Chenevert
Campobello Island

Gary Perry

January 28, 2016

So so sorry for such a Great loss. Uncle Jack will forever live in our thoughts and hearts. he was such a remarkable person. It was an honor to call him my Uncle. God Bless Him

Ralph Hogan

January 28, 2016

A great guy, sorry to hear of Jack's passing. New his trade inside out, always parted with a smile or laughter when we met.

Judy O'Connor

January 28, 2016

Carol, Jimmy, Joey, Johnny, Diane, and Karen, I had mixed feelings when I learned of the passing of your dear Husband/Father, very sad that an old friend was gone, but happy of all the fond memories of our childhood, I was hesitant to attend the Service, thought no one would remember their old baby sitter, I'm glad you did! I remember Jack, and all of you fondly, it's sad how the years came between us, but, you were always in my heart. Jack was a very nice man, my sister, Sharon, remembers him fondly, as well, our condolences to you all. You kids did well, your Dad, I'm sure, was proud of all of you! (And so am I!) He may have left the Earth, but his Spirit will live on in all of you. Again, so sorry for your loss.

January 27, 2016

My thought are with you and your family today. Jack was a very special person in our lives. He will be truly missed.

Rachel

Nancy Apostolas

January 27, 2016

Carol & family
Jack was a terrific guy always smiling and joking.
He will be greatly missed. So Very sorry for your loss. May he rest in Peace.
God Bless

Shelly & Barbara Gamache

January 27, 2016

It's been a very long time...
Carole & Family you are all in our thoughts & prayers ..
So very sorry for the loss of a wonderful man ..
Our Sincere Condolences..

Nicole White

January 27, 2016

I am so sorry for your loss Carol,Johnny,Jimmy,Joey,Karen

Bob pieslak

January 26, 2016

Meet him in Jr. High had lots of fun times ,

January 26, 2016

Thanks for all the great memories. Marco Island will never be the same without you. We love you and will always look after Carol.

Gerald McCormack

January 26, 2016

Jack was one of the Best Persons on this Earth i worked with Jack at Surburban H&P a real Man Our Deepest Condolences Carol

Deb Sawyer

January 26, 2016

January 25, 2016

Carol, Our thoughts are with you and your family on the loss of Jack.
He will be remembered with affection and smiles here at the Grandview on Marco Is.
We'll miss a friend!

Sandra and Charles Witherington

Butch George

January 25, 2016

To Carol and all of Jack's family and many friends I am indeed sorry for your loss, rest assured Jack will not be forgotten.R.I.P. my friend.

January 25, 2016

Thank you for your service Rest in peace

Diane (Purtell) Thorne

January 25, 2016

To Carol and the entire Durfee family. I'm so sorry for your loss. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. My Sincere condolences.

Jack and Sandra Linane

January 25, 2016

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow...sincere condolences.

Richard and Elizabeth McInnis

January 25, 2016

To the Durfee family we are so sorry to hear of your loss, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Jack was a great friend and will be missed by all. RIP my friend.

Steve & Brenda Lopes

January 24, 2016

To Carol and the entire Durfee family our prayers and sympathy at this very difficult time. Jack will be missed at Grandview but never forgotten.

January 24, 2016

I will miss our trade discussions,just a good guy. We always parted ways laughing.
Sincere condolances

Bob Leo Jr

January 24, 2016

Uncle Jack you will be missed there has been plenty of memories but one of my favorites was you and Aunt Carol took us to the Chelmsford drive in and told us you were going to sneak us in for free so we hid under blankets then we did the same on the way out and on the way home you drove off to the side of the road and continued to say we were not out of the drive in yet you finally said it was OK to get up and we were home Good old Shaugnessy terrace

I have since done the same to my kids also..thanks for the great memories

Love your nephew Bobby Leo

Richard and Deborah Sawyer

January 24, 2016

Jack you are a very close friend of ours. Words cannot express how much we will miss you. You were a good person with a huge heart, always ready to help anyone in need. Richard and Deborah

Ron Chenevert

January 24, 2016

Good to know that Jack Thyne is still around. One of my fondest memories of "Durf" was racing through the Dracut State Forest with Jack behind the wheel of a forties Cadillac limosine. I didn't know what became of him when we aged and I'm really happy to know that he had a successful life. It was good to know you, Jack.

January 24, 2016

Jack going to miss you so much...but I have all those memories of our childhood.all the fun we had growing up.till we meet again my friend
Jack Thyne

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