Funeral Mass Offered For Elizabeth Durkin

Former Livingston resident Elizabeth Murphy Durkin died December 3. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered for her in St. Aloysius Church, Caldwell, on Friday, December 10, followed by interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Arrangements were by Hugh M. Moriarty Funeral Home, Montclair.

Born in Kearny in 1925, she had lived in Essex Fells for more than 50 years. She had also lived in Livingston and regularly wintered in Wellington, Florida before ending her days in Spring Lake.

She attended St. Cecilia’s grammar and high schools in Kearny and won an academic scholarship to the College of St. Elizabeth. In 1949, she left her studies to marry Thomas E. Durkin, Jr., with whom she raised seven children.

A founding member of the parish of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland, Mrs. Durkin served as the first president of the school’s PTA. In 1980, she graduated, magna cum laude, from Caldwell College and soon became the college’s director of development. Then, approaching age 60, she opened an Irish import store called the Thatched Cottage. In 1985, the Brian Boru Association

In 1985, the Brian Boru Association named her its first-ever Irishwoman of the Year. In 1994, she received the Veritas Award from Caldwell College for exemplifying the ideals of Catholic womanhood.

Mrs. Durkin is survived by five sons, Thomas E. III (Dianne); Edward Hugh (Anne); Dennis; Cornelius (Mary Ellen); and M. Murphy (Kim); two daughters: Liz Durkin and Tish O’Sullivan (Sean); 19 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren. She is also survived by brothers-in-law Harry (Marlene) and Robert (Mary Sue).

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in Mrs. Durkin’s honor be sent to the Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell University, 120 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006. To post online condolences, visit www.moriartyfh.com.