Mary Genevieve Durkin

Mary Genevieve (Gefken) Durkin (affectionately known to many as “Muffy”), 91, of Orlando, Florida passed away on Saturday, April 5, 2025, peacefully at home with loving family members at her side. A Eulogy will be delivered at 1:45 PM followed by funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. James - Orlando, 215 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801 with the Reverend Phillip Mills of the Cathedral of St. James, officiating. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Embassy Suites, 191 E. Pine Street, Orlando, FL 32801. Arrangements are by DeGusipe Funeral Home Crematory. Mary was born on October 29, 1933, in Orange Memorial Hospital, The Oranges, NJ, to father Frederick J. Gefken and mother Mary Demeter. She grew up in Maplewood, NJ, went to Our Lady of the Valley High School in Orange, NJ and St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Paterson, NJ. She met her future husband in high school and married Paul George Durkin on December 28, 1955. They moved to Brick, NJ in the early 1960s and raised the Durkin family at the Jersey Shore. She was first and always a loving mother and homemaker and second, for many years, a caring nurse that later in life worked private duty for elder patients who became like a second family. She was involved in the KnitWits group at the Audubon Park Covenant Church, Orlando, FL where women gathered to knit, do needlepoint, make crafts and socialize. Mary was the family historian who kept track of generations of relatives like an encyclopedia. She also loved to go on cruises and rarely (until her later years) turned down an offer to travel. Mary was the glue that helped keep her eight children connected via daily phone conversations with each. We will miss her terribly. In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her late husband, Paul George Durkin and her sister Janet Eick. Mary is survived by her eight (8) children, Stephen Durkin of Kauffman, TX; Paul Durkin and wife Gloria of Indian Shores, FL; Patricia Durkin of Bay Head, NJ; Pamela Grossman and husband Glenn of West Hills, CA; Mary Beth Durkin of Point Pleasant, NJ; Judy Scheller of Farmingdale, NJ; Karen McFadden of Orlando, FL; and Todd Durkin and wife Melanie of San Diego, CA; 13 grandchildren, Paul G. Durkin II and wife Zahra and David Durkin; Taylor, Carly and Jonah Grossman; Ian Kirwan and wife Crystal; Sara Humeny and husband Rob and Brooke Scheller; Grant McFadden and wife Bailey and Madeline McFadden; Luke, Brady and McKenna Durkin; and three (3) great grandchildren, Autumn Mummolo; and Lochlan and Ilona Kirwan; and sister Valerie and husband David Blethen; and brother Raymond. Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association or Audubon Park Covenant Church, Orlando, FL. The family of Mary wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the caregivers of VITAS Healthcare (Hospice), particularly Chaplain Avika (Vishisho) Awomi and Elizabeth Besgranges, Home Health Aide and to Anne Affarr, nursing assistant of Home Health Resources.

Mary Genevieve Durkin

October 29, 1933 - April 5, 2025