Agnes Rosemary Herrmann Durden

Agnes Rosemary Herrmann Durden was born in Rockledge, Florida on December 31, 1923 to the late Lucius Herrmann and Helen McSwenney Herrmann who met and married in Ohio. She died on October 10, 2018 in Jacksonville, FL. Her father Lucius was an entrepreneur, baker and real estate investor who moved to Florida for the sun and heat to ease his arthritis. After living in several Florida cities, Lucius settled in San Antonio, Florida where he built the family's home: and with Helen raised their eight children, working his orange groves, sundry shop and other businesses. In the early 1930's Lucius moved to Jacksonville to run the Bon Ton Bakery and Restaurant in 5 Points to help his sister-in-law whose husband had bought the bakery but died in a car accident. All of the children, including Agnes, helped at the Bon Ton after school. Agnes fondly remembers helping in the kitchen and bakery, eating all her meals at the Bon Ton, and learning about Jacksonville's movers and shakers who frequented the Bon Ton.

Agnes graduated from St. Paul's Catholic School and started working at the shipyards as an accounting clerk, often until late evening hours. A friend suggested she move to Stockton and Davin for better working hours. At this same time, her parents moved back to San Antonio leaving a bright, ambitious young woman to manage the rent and expenses of her small apartment on May Street in Riverside. As it was World War II, Jacksonville was bustling with thousands of young men in the Navy and one of these, Bill Durden, fell in love with the petite brunette and asked her to marry him at the end of Post Street by the St. John's River where the Cummer Museum now stands. Agnes and Bill married on January 5, 1944, and they continued to reside in Jacksonville until moving to Gainesville for Bill to attend the University of Florida law school.

In 1947, Bill and Agnes returned to Jacksonville, with one daughter in tow and five more children to come from 1948 to 1960. Due in part to Agnes' determination and support, Bill Durden had a very distinguished legal career. Agnes, after raising six children, went back to school in the 1970's and earned her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology with honors from University of North Florida. Judge (as Bill was called by his family) and Rosie (as she requested to be called before the first grandchild was born) were very proud and supportive of the talents and education of their children and grandchildren. In particular, they made a lot of sacrifices to support Dianne, their second oldest child after she contracted polio as a toddler and developed some other serious health issues related to the polio. However, Rosie and Judge tried to keep Dianne's life as normal as possible until her early death at age 21 in 1969. The other five were also loved, supported and treated with special favors and trips to different parts of the world.

Rosie leaves behind her daughters: Judge Mallory Cooper and her husband, Bill, and their two sons Collins (Amanda) and Cameron; Alison Henderson and her husband, Rick, and Alison's daughter, Ryan (Ben); Lindsay Webster and her husband Mike; Stephen Durden and his wife, Brenna and their children Spencer and Savannah; and Will Durden and his wife, Vicky, and Vicky's children: Kimberly (Kayel), Shannen and Mitchel. Not to be forgotten, two of her favorite little people, Hannah Cooper and Kayden Candari, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, October 19 at 11:00 a.m. at San Jose Catholic Church. Monsignor Mortimer Danaher and Father Rodolfo will officiate. Private interment will be held in Oaklawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to San Jose Catholic Church or River Garden Senior Services.

Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com. HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.