Bernard Francis Durkin

Bernard Francis Durkin, 79, of New Bern, NC died on Monday, May 9, 2011 of an unexpected heart attack.

Bernie was born in the Bronx, NY, the youngest of seven children of John Joseph Durkin and Catherine Marren Durkin of Curry, County Sligo, Ireland. Bernie worked his way through both Fordham Preparatory School and Fordham University, Rosehill Campus, graduating in 1953 with a BA in French. He was then commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant managing several anti-aircraft Batteries in Queens, NY during the Korean War. He was initially employed by the Greybar Electric Company in NY but spent the bulk of his career with different divisions of the Avnet Corporation, primarily the Irving W. Rice Corporation, as Vice President and Sales Manager.

For a number of years he was active in the National Bed, Bath and Linen Association, serving as President in the mid 1970's. Upon retirement, he moved to New Bern, North Carolina where he pursued many of his passions, particularly carpentry and construction -- working on numerous Habitat for Humanity home builds. Bernie was active in many civic and cultural organizations, some of which he helped found, relating to his interests in bicycling, Irish Culture, music and Catholic education. While in Bedford, NY, many remember his presence leading the annual tradition of Christmas Carols on the Village Green. He was an active and devoted member of St. Patrick's Church in Bedford, NY and of St. Paul church in New Bern, NC. In the latter he sang with both the Chancel Choir and the Gospel Choir, served Mass every Friday morning for 15 years at the historic St. Paul church in downtown New Bern and regularly tutored at St. Paul School. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus and loved his adopted city of New Bern.

Bernie was fortunate to share 56 loving years with his wife, Adele McCooey Durkin. He is also survived by his four children, Mary Durkin Romano, her husband Michael Romano of Danbury, CT; Frances Xavier Durkin and her husband T. Stevens Spruth of Minneapolis, MN; Timothy Durkin of Dallas, Texas and Deirdre Durkin Clifford and husband Robert Clifford of Brussells, Belgium; seven grandchildren, Brian, Meghan and Melanie Romano, Henry and John Barthley Spruth, Adele and Patrick Clifford. Mr. Durkin is also survived by a sister, Kitty Durkin Flood of Staten Island, NY.

Services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at St. Paul Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Josephs’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 pm Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at Cotten Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated by St. Paul Historical Building Fund to maintain the downtown church, North Carolina's oldest Roman Catholic Church (1821). Checks should be payable to St. Paul Catholic Church ref: Old St. Paul Preservation 3005 Country Club Rd., New Bern, NC 28562.