Christine Marie Durkin

Christine Marie Glazar Durkin passed away at the age of 78 on September 11, 2024, at Medical City Hospital in Arlington, Texas after a sudden turn from an unexpected illness. Her daughter was with her, advocating for and shepherding her transition.

She was born in Los Angeles, California on June 4, 1946, to Dorothy and Stanley Glazar, but at age 8 moved with her mother and younger brother to Chicago, Illinois, where her mother and extended family were from. A Chicagoan at heart, it often came as a surprise when people learned that she was born in California.

She attended grade school at Our Lady of Grace school, and after completing her time there, graduated on to Alvernia High School for girls. She was an exemplary student who worked diligently and excelled at anything to which she set her mind. She was the captain of her high school debate team and won many a tournament at local, regional and state levels. Her academic achievements were such that she was offered a full scholarship to attend Loyola University Chicago, and in doing so became the first person in her family to attend college level education. Her commitment and dedication to education and learning would be a lifelong passion, personal philosophy and moral compass by which she steered the rest of her life.

While at university she excelled not only at academics, but socially as well. She was also a stunner. Her charm, personality and looks garnered her the attention of many around her all the way up to her earning the title of runner up in the Miss Loyola contest. Her song and dance performance to Teresa Brewer’s Bell Bottom Blues was a smash hit.

At Loyola is where she met James Durkin, and they married in August 1968. Shortly after they were married Jim was called up into the army to serve in Vietnam, so they relocated to North Carolina for a time during his training. While he was overseas, Christine was back in Chicago teaching at Austin High School, serving inner city communities, teaching English and literacy. She was loved and respected by students and teachers alike.

In January 1973 she and Jim welcomed their only daughter Natalie. In 1975 Jim took a job transfer which moved the family to Houston, Texas where Christine resumed teaching high school at several private schools in the area, St. Pius and the Hebrew Academy being among them. She was ever diverse and always committed to helping students from any walk of life or background to learn and grow.

As happens with many relationships, their marriage didn’t survive, which prompted a pivot in her educational and career focus. In order to provide a more stable income as a single mom, she left the academic world to transition to private sector work. It began with clerical and administrative positions with a private law firm and then taking a position with Bechtel where she worked in their investment department. It was during the time that her most formative professional years began. While working full time as a single mom, she embarked on taking night school classes in order to earn her master’s degree in management from Houston Baptist University. She continued and pursued sitting for and passing the CPA exam on her first attempt after many months of sequestered solo study sessions on the back patio of the Houston home she shared with Natalie. During this time, she was laid off from Bechtel, and after several months of job searching landed a job in the Internal Audit department of Houston ISD, which again became a pivotal role in her professional life and development. She continued and earned her Certified Internal Auditor designation as well as earning her Certified Fraud Examiner credentials. She became one of the foremost experienced people in governmental internal audit specialties and attended many conferences both as a presenter and a participant.

Hungry for more autonomy and opportunity, she began to look elsewhere to expand her expertise, and in 2001 she relocated after accepting the role as Director of Internal Audit for the Arlington, Texas school district, where she remained until her retirement. For the first time in her life, she was in a city and a home that was 100% of her own choice and her own making. Her experience with a school district as enormous as Houston’s was why the then superintendent chose her for the role; Arlington at that time was transitioning from a small town feel to larger metropolitan city and her expertise was pivotal in helping the school district expand and manage the new requirements and expectations this kind of growth demands. During her tenure she mentored and encouraged anyone who worked for and with her to grow and excel in their own professional development. Her legacy lives on in anyone who had the privilege to be nurtured by her, whether professionally or personally.

Christine was an active member of several Rotary Clubs, and in addition to her volunteer service pertaining to her role as a Rotarian, she also volunteered as a tutor and after school reading coach. She cherished her time helping young people learn to gain success while also building their inner confidence in their own capabilities. She was a champion for many. She was a devoted animal lover, having several beloved dogs throughout her life while also donating to many charities for animals. She also gave freely to Doctors Without Borders, Meals on Wheels and many other charities that spoke to her heart.

Her life was not without challenge. Over the years she developed what became many physical and health related challenges. The list of ailments and serious bone breaks, surgeries, and other afflictions is truly too long to fully list, and through it all she maintained a positive attitude and stubborn independence. The number of times she was seriously ill or injured to the point that would have ended almost anyone else, is at least over a dozen, and each time, she pulled through. Her internal medicine doctor who treated her for over 20 years referred to her as a cork- she always bobbed back up and never sank. It is why her passing away after this hospitalization seems impossible to accept.

For people who only knew Christine as that little elderly lady who falls all the time, it is important that they get a chance to glean a sense that she was so much more than how she presented in her later years. She was funny. She was brilliant. She was sassy. She was clever. She was one of the strongest people you could ever meet. She put her daughter and her family above all else. Her heart and her capacity for empathy were second to none. She cared deeply about everyone in her life and in the goings on in the community and world around her. She hated being a burden on others which made asking for help very difficult for her, but the flip side of that was she was supremely determined and showed grit and fortitude and courage to keep going even when the simple act of getting out of bed was physically challenging and painful. She never ever gave up. Even in her final day of being on this earth, she fought hard to stay. But when it was finally time for her to rest, she went peacefully, job well done.

She is survived by her daughter Natalie, brother Greg (Carol), niece Rebecca (Kyle), nephew Tyler (Angela) and their families. If you like flowers, her personal favorites were hydrangeas (blue or white) and lilies of any sort. Buy some for yourself or someone you love next time you are able. You may also donate to a charity that is dear to your heart on her behalf. She referred to garlic as The Secret Ingredient (she wasn’t wrong) should you choose to make it a tradition for you and yours, and she adored a vodka martini with a lemon twist, or a spot of nice bourbon should you want to raise a glass in her memory. Finally, as anyone who spoke to her these last few years, she would want me to tell you to “Stay Safe.”

She did not want an official service, but various Celebration of Life gatherings will be organized and planned at a later date.

The staff at Moore Funeral Home encourages family and friends to express their fond memories, expressions of sympathy and additional condolences to the family of Christine Marie Durkin, by visiting www.moore-funeralhome.com.

In addition, If you or someone you know wish to send a floral condolence piece to the Durkin family in honor of the late Christine Marie Durkin, you may choose to do so by calling In Bloom Flowers and Gifts at (972)-256-6637