Matthew M. Durr

1954 - 2021

Matthew M. Durr 1954 - 2021
UTICA - Mr. Matthew M. Durr, 66, of Utica, passed away, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at his home, with his loving family by his side.
Matthew was born in Utica, on July 31, 1954, the son of Edmund J. and Margaret (Vollmer) Durr. He was raised and educated in Utica and was a graduate of Notre Dame High School. On April 23, 2005, Matthew was united in marriage to Melanie Brown, a loving and devoted union of 16 years. For over forty years, Matt was employed by Niagara Mohawk/National Grid, retiring as a foreman on December 1, 2013. At one time, Matt was married to Janice (Koury) Curley and the couple raised two beautiful daughters together. A devout Catholic, Matt was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, New Hartford.
He was a coach and past president of the Greater Utica Girls Softball league and coached Notre Dame High School softball from 1988-1996 which was very dear to his heart. In 1994, his Notre Dame softball team won Section 3 and Regional titles and made it to the state finals. Matt was named NYS Class C Softball Coach of the Year.
He was a gifted gardener, whose flowers and vegetables were the envy of the neighborhood. Matt always enjoyed a good round of golf with family and friends and was an avid NY Yankees fan. Family values and traditions were especially important to Matt and he eagerly looked forward to the annual Durr, Riley and Ryan family reunion that spanned a period of over 65 years. His circle of friends was beyond compare and he was affectionately known by many as "The Mayor." Matt was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, whose greatest joy came from spending time with his children and especially his grandchildren, who were the light of his life. To have known Matt was to truly love him and the world was a better place because he was in it.
Mr. Durr is survived by his beloved wife, Melanie; two loving daughters and sons-in-law, Karri and Patrick Roach, of Sauquoit, and Rebecca and John Simmons, of Utica; five cherished grandchildren, Grace Simmons, Matthew Simmons, Jake Decker, Elise Simmons and Kaylie Roach; five sisters and four brothers-in-law, Mary and Gregg Stephens, of WI, Margaret Jarosz, of NY Mills, Monica and Dwight Davis, of Durhamville, Agnes and Mark Duening, of AZ and Elizabeth and Jason Trinkaus, of Marcy; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Mark and Gail Durr, of Schuyler, and Michael and MaryEllen Durr, of North Gage; his in-laws, Lesley and George Sabol, of OR, Randall Brown, of FL, Valerie Brown, of FL, Darrell and Laura Brown, of FL, Kelly Masterton, of MA, Ashley Liggitt, of FL, Diane Masterton, of CA and Bruce Ball, of FL; his Saturday meatball gang, Domenic, Dave, Bob and Ed; cherished friends and neighbors, Bertie and Eddie Schrader; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, Edmund and Margaret; an uncle, Raymond Durr, who he was especially close with; in-laws, Harold and Dawn Brown and Dorothy Etienne; sister-in-law, Holly Ball; brother-in-law, Ian Masterson; and former father-in-law, Frank Koury.
Mr. Durr's funeral will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 2222 Genesee St., Utica, where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. His Rite of Committal and Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Whitesboro. Calling hours for family and friends are Friday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Heintz Funeral Home, 408 Herkimer Rd., N. Utica. Face coverings are required and social distancing and contact tracing protocols must be observed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Marian Club, C/O Notre Dame High School or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Matt's memory. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Messages of sympathy may be shared at www.heintzfuneralservice.net.