Loved to spend time at the beach with family and friends
MIDDLETOWN, Maryland — Loretta (Doherty) “Sissy” Durkin, 93, of Middletown, Maryland, formerly of Scituate, Mass., passed away on April 27, 2025.
Born on October 17, 1931 to the late Joseph and Loretta (Ebsary) Doherty, she was the cherished wife of the late Bernard Michael “Barney” Durkin. She was the loving sister to Anne Marie (Doherty) Richardson of Pembroke, Mass., and the late Joseph “Joey” Doherty of Charlestown, Mass., John “Jackie” Doherty of North Reading, Mass., Richard “Richie” Doherty, Theodore “Teddy” Doherty and Norman Doherty, all of Charlestown, Mass.
She was the beloved mother to the late Bernard M. “Bernie” Durkin and his wife, the former Helen (Curran) Brooks, formerly of Scituate, Mass.; Dennis J. Durkin and his wife Maggie of Rye, N.H.; Carol (Durkin) Sheffler and her husband Mark of Middletown, Maryland; and Paula Durkin of Grand Junction, Colorado.
Loretta was the loving grandmother to Caroline Durkin and Colleen Durkin of Chicago, Illinois, and Ashley (Sheffler) Healy and family of Asheville, N.C., and Meagan Sheffler and family of Ruckersville, Virginia. She was the great-grandmother to Meagan’s children, Sage and Nico, and to Ashley’s children, Harlow, and twins Harry and Hugh, all of whom she greatly adored.
Sissy was employed by the Old Mill Pond Tennis Club in Hanover, Mass., and the old Pilgrim Tennis Club in Hingham, Mass., for many years part-time. Prior to moving to Scituate and immediately after graduating from Matignon High School in Cambridge, Mass., she worked at the Revere Sugar Refinery with her lifelong friend, the late Mary T. “Schraffie” (Shraffenberger) Stanley, formerly of Charlestown, Mass.
She also greatly adored and was a proud aunt to many beloved nieces and nephews from around the South Shore and North Shore, and Boston/Charlestown area of Massachusetts, including Jeanne (Doherty) Dixon and her family of North Reading, Mass., and for many years in Middletown, Maryland, who were always willing to help her and attend the many cookouts and get-togethers after the beach in the summer or shovel her out in the winter, or rake the leaves, if she’d let them. Egypt Beach was always a favorite place to spend the day and visit with longtime friends and family.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Loretta’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org. Arrangements are in the care of the Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, Scituate.