Marian Carty Durkee

"> Marian Carty Durkee
Marian was born July 6, 1921, the younger daughter of the late Dr. Harry Carty and Mrs. Helen King Carty of Freemansburg, PA. She graduated from Liberty High School in 1939 and Moravian College in 1941 - both with high honors. She worked as a secretary at the Dodson Company (Bethlehem) and in a Chinese-American nursery school (San Francisco) during World War II. Marian was married for 64 years to the late Jackson Leland Durkee, her high school sweetheart, with whom she raised three daughters in Bethlehem. She was a fashion guru with the best legs in America - she always vacuumed in her high heels. On family vacations she hiked and canoed through the wilderness with a wig and lipstick in her backpack. Marian was a wonderful mother to three daughters: Janice, Judith and Christine. She had the best spaghetti sauce, meatloaf and strawberry shortcake recipes. Marian was a self-proclaimed nutrition expert in her own home - she was a great believer in cod liver oil, okra and wheat germ for her children. She, herself, was an unrepentant chocoholic and pretzel addict. Marian was an early listener of talk radio - Martha Dean at 10:15 followed by some boring nutritionist. She loved gardening and served as Madam President of the Bethlehem Garden Club. She was a devoted attendee of the Philadelphia Flower Show. Marian logged an impressive 5,000 hours as a volunteer at St. Lukes Hospital. For decades, she was a walking tour guide for Central Moravian Church, and a docent for the Moravian Museum and Sun Inn. As a volunteer, her uniforms and hair were always starched. Marian was a member of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem. Marian was a firm believer in proper education - she was a 50-year member of The Great Books Society and attended Elder Hostel throughout the country. Her nickname was Mrs. Grammar. She had decided opinions on proper usage and pronunciation of words - she kept a dictionary at her bedside in case of emergency. Her favorite definitions, however, were her own - as in old age, which was always ten years older than she was. Her favorite gifts to give: books along with an educational rock. Her favorite gifts to receive: books and chocolate. Marian was known as Cita (Little One) to her family. She was five feet and half an inch - and never forgot to mention that half an inch. Cita was adored by seven grandchildren and one great-grandson. Her favorite activities with grandchildren were feeding the ducks, playing Huckleberry Beanstalk, or going for a movie and dinner. Driving the U.S.S. Cheetah to see the Christmas lights and riding the trolley at Musikfest were classic, annual outings. She was brave enough to have a flock of grandchildren on sleepovers at one time. Citas favorite method of discipline was the dreaded sad step where one was sent until further notice. She told wonderful stories about life in a canal town (Freemansburg), the Great Depression, and World War II - especially about the day the Pacific Fleet returned home from war to San Francisco. Cita was fun loving - she never missed a birthday party, a treasure hunt, a theater outing, a summer at the beach, or a trip to a national park. She was known to climb over the fences of Central Park (NY) in her skirt. She had a great sense of humor but appreciated her own jokes the most. Cita was fearless- she hurtled down the Aqua Blast at Dorney Park at age 77 and swam with the sting rays in the Caribbean at age 87. She loved to travel, and explored five continents. Cita was a privilege to have in our lives. In 1986, her family named a galaxy star in her honor called The Cita Star. She died on March 2, 2010, and will be buried at Riegelsville Cemetery in her favorite shoes. God bless you, Mother dear - God-speed on your new adventure. And as Old Blue Eyes sang, you were always Young at Heart. Services: Private, with the assistance of Swartz-Givinish Funeral Home, Newtown, PA. Survivors: Daughters, Janice and her husband, Blake Parry of New Hope, Judith and her husband, Clayton Burton of Chadds Ford, Christine and her husband, Robert Simpson of Nazareth; seven grandchildren, Lisa, Ryan, Tasha, Jen, Ted, Jay and Alison; one great-grandson, Bill. Contributions: Alzheimers Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871. Online condolences may be made to the family on Citas Tribute page at www.schmidtfuneralhomepc.com