Loretta “Sissy” Durkin, age 93, formerly of Scituate, Massachusetts, passed away on April 27, 2025, in Middletown, Maryland.
Beloved wife of the late Bernard Michael “Barney” Durkin and devoted mother to the late Bernard M. “Bernie” Durkin Jr. and his wife, the former Helen (Curran) Brooks, formerly of Scituate; Dennis J. “Duka” Durkin and his wife Maggie of Rye, New Hampshire; Carol Sheffler (Durkin) and her husband Mark of Middletown, Maryland; and Paula Durkin of Grand Junction, Colorado.
She was a cherished grandmother to Caroline Durkin and Colleen Durkin of Chicago, Illinois; Ashley Healy (Sheffler) of Asheville, North Carolina; and Meagan Sheffler of Ruckersville, Virginia and loving great-grandmother to Meagan’s children, Sage and Nico; and Ashley’s children, Harlow and twins Harry and Hugh.
Sissy was also the loving sister of Anne Marie Richardson (Doherty) and her husband Fred of Pembroke. She was predeceased by her brothers Joseph “Joey” Doherty; John “Jackie” Doherty and his wife Barbara (Durkin) Doherty; Richard “Richie” Doherty; Norman Doherty; and Theodore “Teddy” Doherty all of Charlestown or North Reading, Massachusetts; a very proud aunt to many nieces and nephews from the Boston/Charlestown area, and thoroughly enjoyed all of the Shefflers and time spent in Maryland.
Loretta worked for many years at the South Shore YMCA in Hanover and at the Pilgrim Tennis Club in Hingham. After graduating from Matignon High School in Cambridge, she worked at the Revere Sugar Refinery alongside her lifelong friend, the late Mary T. “Schraffie” Stanley (Schraffenberger) formerly of Charlestown.
Private services were held on May 14 at Union Cemetery in Scituate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Loretta’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
