| Constance E. Durfee
October 28, 1924 - January 2, 2009
Constance A. Durfee, 84, of Washington , NJ passed away Friday, January 2, 2009 at Morristown Hospital from injuries sustained as a pedestrian on Highway 57.
Born: October 28, 19 24 in Newark, NJ to the late Charles and Marjorie Edsall.
Personal: She lived in Washington, NJ for the past 10 years, she retired to her family home in Great Meadows from Rochester, NY. Constance was a teacher and educator to the deaf. She taught sign language at the Rochester School for the deaf. Later in life she volunteered at local schools and colleges as a sign language teacher. She taught for 40 years. She graduated from the University of Arizona, Tucson with a Masters in education. She loved to read the New Yorker and enjoyed poetry. She supported and was active with the Washington Library. Constance was very active and well respected in the Washington Community. She will be remembered for her kindness.
Memberships: She was a member of the Skylands Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church, Hackettstown. A member of the American Association of University Women.
Survivors: She is survived by her loving daughter, Karen Overturf and her husband, Jim of Lincoln, NE; a grandson, Chad Parson of NY, NY; a niece, Deirdre Phelps and her husband, Jerome of Mass.; a cousin, Margaret Levine of Belvidere; a nephew, Kent Phelps and his wife, Mary and their children, Kelly and Mason Phelps of CO; her dear friend, Gloria Hourihan.
Services: On January 7, 2009 her cremains were scattered among trees she planted as a young girl. A memorial service will be held for Constance Durfee 84 of Washington on Saturday May16, 2009 11:30 am at the Skylands Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1811 Route 57, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 with the Rev. Allen Wells officiating. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the Warren Hills Memorial home, 234 W. Washington, Ave., Washington, NJ, 07882.
Memorials: Washington Emergency Squad, 100 Belvidere Ave., Washington, NJ 07882; Skylands Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church, 1811 Route 57, Hackettstown, NJ 07840; AAUW, 1111 Sixteenth St, N.W., Washington, DC 20036; Amnesty International USA, 5 Penn Plaza, 16th Floor, NY, NY 10001; ACLY , 125 Broad St., 18th Floor, NY, NY 10004, or a charity of ones choice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My condolences. Connie will be greatly missed. The loss of the wealth of knowledge, that she eagerly shared with me on our family’s history, will be greatly missed. She was a very special person. Can you share with me the location of her interment? Cheryl A. Mead Office and Data Administrator. CMead@pumps.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR KAREN FROM PEG @ DICK MEAD
WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY I TALKED TO CONNIE NEW YEARS DAY AND I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THE NEWS COUSIN DICK IS IN A NURSING HOME WITH ALZIEMERS PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME AND COUSIN MARGARET LEVINE 45 KARLA DR. WHIPPANY N. J. 07981 WE WILL LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SPRING FOR HER MEMORIAL SERVICE MAY SHE REST IN PEACE PEGGY MEAD
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Karen, My condolences to you and your entire family on the loss of your mother. By way of introduction, I am your cousin-once-removed (I think I have that correct). I am the daughter of Richard Mead, your mother's cousin. I don't know if we have met, although if so, we would have been quite young. I have memories of visiting Aunt Marjorie’s house as a child, and believe I visited your mother there right before that property was sold. Over the past years, through my father's sister Margaret Levine, I was able to get acquainted with your mother and so enjoyed the opportunity. I enjoyed the description in the Times-Express of you mother as a "friendly, chatty, fiery person" - my word for her was spitfire. I am so saddened by the news of her death as it is is definitely a loss for us all. I feel my life is enriched by having known her. The day I heard about your mother, I spent it speaking with the Warren police and Morristown Memorial Hospital trying to track down her family relations. My father and Aunt Margaret both have Alzheimer’s and without their memories, I didn't know where to get any contact info for you. Eventually the Warren police left me a message that you had been contacted, although they only left your first name and didn't return my call asking for your last name, and state. I was glad to get the obituary s of mine at Skylands. If I can help in any way, please let me know. My deepest condolences. Valerie Mead
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The following poem, saved by Constance Durfee, was found among her effects by her daughter and her niece:
Immortality
Do not stand by my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning lush,
I am the swift, unflinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand by my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.
--Anonymous
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My condolences to the family. I always saw your mom walk by my house, pulling her shopping cart..her gait was always quick and full of life. I knew she was older than I was, and I was always shamed at being such a slouch when it came to walking, when I compared myself to her. She was a real inspiration. She stopped at my yardsale during the town-wide yard sale in 2007, and we visited a good 20 minutes. So much energy and personality, sense of humor and enthusiasm for life. I thoroughly enjoyed becoming acquainted with her. As she was on her way to meet her destiny, I was standing outside in the back of my house which overlooks the access street coming from the apartments and there was Constance, all bundled up, pulling her cart, clipping along. She paused at the foot of my hill, kicking something in the street around with her foot...it really had her curiosity. Perhaps it was something shiny, or a little animal. Heaven knows that whatever she was inspecting, it gave me extra minutes to admire her. I was
"freezing" and could not wait until my dog finished doing what she needed to do so I could get back inside the warm house. While I was standing there, I really studied Constance and admired so much that, once again, there she was, not letting weather or lack of transportation stop her from her mission. I quietly said 'thank you' to her for setting such a wonderful example for me, and vowed that I would emulate her. Little did I know... Sadly, that was the last time I will be given the opportunity to be 'booted' by her... she had a journey to finish. I shall not forget her, nor the example she set for me. How lucky you all are to have had her in your life. My God's Peace comfort and console you. Miki Kellum
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