Obituary of Ruth Ann Durkin

Ruth Ann Elizabeth Durkin (née Ryan), 82, of Randolph, New Jersey, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of January 24, 2024.

Born on May 21, 1941, Ruth Ann was the daughter of Madeline and George Ryan, and grew up in Nutley, New Jersey with her younger brother, John Paul. Graduating from Nutley High School, Ruth Ann received a full tuition scholarship from the Optimists’ Club to attend Glassboro State University, where she studied education. At Glassboro, she made the Dean’s List and worked for the school newspaper. She went on to become a popular and dedicated Elementary School Teacher in Northern New Jersey, with stints in the Nutley, Mendham, Summit, and Florham Park school systems. Later, she earned her master’s degree in education from Newark State College (now known as Kean University).

Ruth Ann had a beautiful voice and spent several years singing with the Sweet Adelines women’s chorus. She was also an avid swimmer and had many fond memories of summers working as a camp counselor.

After Ruth Ann married Ronald Durkin (1964), she paused her career to focus on raising her two sons: Andrew Joseph (b. 1968) and Glenn Lewis (b. 1970). She was an extraordinarily devoted and selfless mother who taught her boys to embrace life, with many trips to museums, parks, plays, and other attractions. She encouraged their participation in Boy Scouts, school activities, art, camps, and sports. She was a great support to them academically.

After the untimely passing of her beloved brother, John Ryan, in 1989, Ruth Ann devoted herself full-time to the monumental task of supervising his estate while simultaneously caring for her ailing mother, Madeline Ryan, who passed away in 1992.

In the latter part of her life, Ruth Ann traveled frequently, with trips to Ireland, Austria, Alaska, and Hawaii. She adored her four grandchildren and was as devoted to them as she had been to her own sons. Until the end, family remained the most important thing to her. She was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.

Visitation Friday, January 26, 2024, from 5:00PM – 7:00PM at Tuttle Funeral Home, 272 Route 10, Randolph (www.tuttlefh.com). A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00AM, Saturday, January 27, 2024, at St. Matthew Church in Randolph (335 Dover Chester Rd, Randolph, NJ 07869). Final Disposition is private. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Morristown Memorial Hospital cardiac unit.