Anna “Marie” Duryea went peacefully into the arms of the Lord surrounded by her family on March 23, 2023, at the age of 95, in Orange City, Florida, after a brief hospital stay for heart trouble.
Born April 22, 1927, in Hempstead, New York, to parents Clarence and Evangeline (née Lambert) Lemyre, Marie was a devout Catholic with a loving and gentle spirit. Married to Theodore (Ted) Duryea on Aug. 30, 1947, Marie was a loving wife for 61 years and a devoted mother to their three children, raising their family in Massapequa, New York. During their retirement years, Marie and Ted moved to Greenville, where they lived for over 25 years in the cabin they built together. They later settled in DeBary, Florida, enjoying their remaining years.
Marie blanketed all those around her with her love and thoughtfulness, always sending her love, kind thoughts and prayers for birthdays and other celebrations. Her children could expect a loving text every night. She was an avid reader (and sharp as a tack) until her very last days, but the focus of so much of her time was on prayer for her family and friends, which brought comfort to so many.
Throughout her life, she was a regular volunteer and daily churchgoer at the Catholic church she attended: St. James in Massapequa, New York; St. John’s in Greenville, New York, and St. Ann’s in DeBary, Florida. There was no doubt to anyone that knew Marie that Jesus was the center of her world. Her kindness, humility and thoughtfulness brought the hands and feet of Jesus to everyone she touched.
Marie was predeceased by her husband Ted, brothers Joe and Dick, sisters Helen Loughran and Jeanne Grover, and great-granddaughter Monique Singer. Marie is survived by her children: Donna, Joe (Shelley), Bill (Paula), sister-in-law Winnie and Barbara, 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, many nephews and nieces, especially Sandy, who lived with and helped care for Marie in her final years.
There will be two services in honor of Marie’s life: on April 14 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in DeBary, Florida, and on April 22 at 12 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Greenville, New York.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Greenville, New York, or Advent Fish Memorial Hospital of Orange, Florida, which cared for her wonderfully in her final days.
