John Durkin

YOUNGSTOWN - Prayers will begin Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Luke Church for John Joseph Durkin who entered into eternal rest on Jan. 19 at his home surrounded by family.
He was born March 22, 1931, to John F. and Bridget (DeVaney) Durkin.
He married the former Anna Mae Franko on April 27, 1957. Together they had four children, Jack (Gina) Durkin of Boardman, Diane Petersen of Hilliard, Colleen (Tom) Loney of North Lima, and Brigid (Rob) Baker of Germantown, Md..
Durk is also survived by his sisters, Sally Durkin of Columbiana and Dorothy Walsh of Tallmadge; brothers James (Janie) Durkin of Avon and Richard (Patty) Durkin of Ellsworth.
He also leaves to cherish his memory eight grandchildren, Patrick, Natalie and Kevin Durkin, Alyssa, Jordan, and Jerrod Petersen, and Ryan and Abbey Loney.
He was a 1949 graduate of Ursuline High School, where he also served as Booster President.
He served in the Korean War (1950-1954) as Staff Sgt. in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command.
Durk was a founding member of St. Luke Catholic Church and a member of the Holy Name Society. He was very active in the early Cursillo movement and served as a rector and member of many teams. He was a charter member of the Mahoning Valley Gaelic Society, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Knights of Columbus (Bishop Malone Council No. 12756).
Durk worked as an operating engineer for the A.P. O'Horo Co. for 30 years. He retired from the State of Ohio as a Safety Consultant in the Division of Safety and Hygiene after 10 years.
Durk lived and breathed everything Irish and Notre Dame. All who met him relished in his sense of humor and enthusiasm for family, faith and friends.
His eternal love and dedication to Anna Mae was an inspiration to all. As his granddaughter recently shared, "if I could have one thing in life, it would be to know the love my grandparents have for each other."
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Rosemary Durkin and Margaret Reali; a brother, Michael; a son-in-law, Michael Petersen; and a sister-in-law, Edna Franko.
The Durkin family would like to thank Dr. Santuccio Ricciardi for his many years of personalized compassionate care, as well as Hospice of the Valley.
Please join their family in a celebration of his life on Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Poland Chapel, followed by a Cursillo service at 7 p.m.