Anne Elizabeth Durkin

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend Anne Elizabeth Durkin, passed away at home on Sunday, April 26, 2015, surrounded by her family. Born to August and Elizabeth Theis on May 26, 1927 in Staten Island, NY, she grew up a "small town girl" before meeting the love of her life, Thomas Durkin, an Army Air Corp pilot who swept her off her feet and made her his wife on Dec. 28, 1947. From there her world expanded, and their first child, Patricia, was born in Japan, followed just 13 months later with Kathleen, born in San Francisco on their return to the states. Years of duty stations from Bangor, Maine to Guam brought them to Fayetteville, NC in 1958, where they settled and made a full life, first by adding another daughter, Deborah. As a devoted member of St. Patrick's Church, Anne volunteered at St. Patrick's School library and was there for 35 years, earning a special recognition in 2004 - the Bishop F. Joseph Gossman Award for outstanding service to Catholic education in the Raleigh Diocese. She was always active - loved to play golf and would enjoy Ladies Tournaments, (bringing home trophies for her play), as well as rounds with Tom and their friends as often as possible. She was an avid bridge player, crossword puzzle aficionado, and voracious reader. But her main focus was her family, and caring for her Thomas and their three daughters through all life's joys and traumas. Mom was always there with love and support. She is survived by her husband, Thomas; daughters Patricia D. Morgan and husband Michael of Southern Pines, NC; Kathleen D. Rice of New Bern, NC; Deborah D. Wall and husband Bruce of Roanoke, VA; and grandchildren, Brian, Eric, Kristen, Justin, and Emma. Her family wishes to thank her devoted caregivers, Kima Simmons, Retha Toney, Shakita Hester, and Takeisha McNeill, who were invaluable help through her prolonged illness. The family will receive friends at St. Patrick's Church Family Visitation Room on Thursday, April 30th at 10 am. The funeral Mass will follow in the church at 11 am, with burial in the columbarium after the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or St.Patrick's Church Building Fund.

Anne Elizabeth Durkin

May 26, 1927 - April 26, 2015