Obituary of Constance E. Durfee

Constance A. Durfee, 84, of Washington , NJ passed away Friday, January 2, 2009 at Morristown Hospital from injuries sustained as a pedestrian on Highway 57. Born: October 28, 19 24 in Newark, NJ to the late Charles and Marjorie Edsall. Personal: She lived in Washington, NJ for the past 10 years, she retired to her family home in Great Meadows from Rochester, NY. Constance was a teacher and educator to the deaf. She taught sign language at the Rochester School for the deaf. Later in life she volunteered at local schools and colleges as a sign language teacher. She taught for 40 years. She graduated from the University of Arizona, Tucson with a Masters in education. She loved to read the New Yorker and enjoyed poetry. She supported and was active with the Washington Library. Constance was very active and well respected in the Washington Community. She will be remembered for her kindness. Memberships: She was a member of the Skylands Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church, Hackettstown. A member of the American Association of University Women. Survivors: She is survived by her loving daughter, Karen Overturf and her husband, Jim of Lincoln, NE; a grandson, Chad Parson of NY, NY; a niece, Deirdre Phelps and her husband, Jerome of Mass.; a cousin, Margaret Levine of Belvidere; a nephew, Kent Phelps and his wife, Mary and their children, Kelly and Mason Phelps of CO; her dear friend, Gloria Hourihan. Services: On January 7, 2009 her cremains were scattered among trees she planted as a young girl. A memorial service will be held for Constance Durfee 84 of Washington on Saturday May16, 2009 11:30 am at the Skylands Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1811 Route 57, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 with the Rev. Allen Wells officiating. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the Warren Hills Memorial home, 234 W. Washington, Ave., Washington, NJ, 07882. Memorials: Washington Emergency Squad, 100 Belvidere Ave., Washington, NJ 07882; Skylands Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church, 1811 Route 57, Hackettstown, NJ 07840; AAUW, 1111 Sixteenth St, N.W., Washington, DC 20036; Amnesty International USA, 5 Penn Plaza, 16th Floor, NY, NY 10001; ACLY , 125 Broad St., 18th Floor, NY, NY 10004, or a charity of ones choice.