Rita Delores Durrant

On January 20, 2015, Rita Durrant, 95, passed away peacefully, after a very impressive, fulfilling life. Rita was born July 4, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois, right after her father presented a firecracker to her mother on the back porch. Rita was raised in Chicago, with her sister, brother and parents. She became a Dental Hygienist, then in support of the war effort (WWII), worked as a Telephone Switchboard Operator, for Chicago Bridge & Iron, and The Chicago Mercantile Stock Exchange.

Rita ventured out and followed some girlfriends from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she found a job, and was introduced to one of their friends from home, Johnny Durrant, an Ensign in the Navy. She had heard wonderful things about him, so she was willing to go on a date, and after a 6 week romance, John proposed, before he was shipped out to sea. John then begged that they marry that same day, and have a Chicago ceremony later. They found a sweet little Chapel, and got married that night. After moving back to Chicago, they settled down and had 4 children, Jackie, Michael, Joseph, and Julie.

When Rita was turning 50, she decided to fulfill a life-long ambition to go to college, and her birthday gift from John, was a college education. She attended Governors State University, and earned a B.A., then an M.A. in Literature. Rita wrote career monologues for a year, then noticing a void in assistance for adult students, decided to write a book to assist mature students in pursuing an education. She asked another friend to co-author the book, and College after 30 was published in 1981.

When John retired from U.S. Steel, and accepted a job in Philadelphia, Rita enjoyed more coursework in writing, and took a teaching position at Holy Family College, where she taught English and Communication and classes. Rita’s true love was always poetry. She wrote and published poems in magazines and journals, and won awards in California and later in Virginia for 2 poems.

Upon retiring to Williamsburg, in 1993, Rita served as a Poetry Instructor for 6 years, at the Christopher Wren Association at the College of William & Mary. Rita founded the Williamsburg Poetry Guild, in 1997, and served as President and Instructor. During her tenure with the Guild, she edited Images of Williamsburg, a collection of poems written in honor of the 300th anniversary of the city of Williamsburg. Rita also guided the Poetry Guild into publishing Vintage Wines and Good Spirits, a collection of their poetry. In 1995, she served as Vice President of the Poetry Society of Virginia, and was also honored with membership in the National League of American Pen Women. She remained active in writing after moving to Chambrel of Williamsburg, and participated in many literary events there. After her children and grandchildren encouraged her to publish a book of her own Poetry, she published Dancing to the Marigold Mazurka, in 2010, at age 91.

Surviving Rita, are her son, Michael, his wife Mary Cay, daughter Julie, grandchildren, Rob Durrant, Jessica, and Darin Remsing, their baby, Eli, and Brandon, and Misty Durrant, and their daughter, Caitlynn. Although Rita had a very impressive life as a writer and Poet, she said in an interview for the “About the Author” of Dancing to the Marigold Mazurka, she considers her most treasured gifts in life, her husband, children, and especially her grandchildren. Rita was also a blessing to all who knew her.

A viewing will take place at Nelsen Funeral Home, on Friday, January 23rd, from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Rita’s Funeral Mass will be at the St. Bede Catholic Campus Ministry Chapel, January 24, at 9:00 a.m.

Burial will follow in Chicago, Il.

Remembrances can be made to the NICU Unit of Mary Birch Women’s Hospital, San Diego, Ca.