Kathleen T Durning

Kathleen T Durning, born November 3, 1959 entered into rest on Saturday, July 10, 2021.  Kathy was the youngest of 9 children.  She was a 1978 graduate of Western Reserve High school where she was the salutatorian of her class.  She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio Dominican College, and shortly after joined the Peace Corps.  She served in Honduras for 2 years before she returned to Ohio and pursued a Master’s Degree in linguistics from Ohio University. After a visit to her brother in Alaska, Kathy took a teaching position in Kasigluk and then Eagle River, AK.  She later returned to Columbus, Ohio where she taught at Bishop Watterson High School. 

Kathy was an extremely caring and joyful person.  Her extraordinary gift was to show each person she met that she truly cared about them. She had a wonderful sense of humor and an infectious laugh.  Besides her family and friends, Kathy had a great love of music, animals,  and nature. Her greatest pleasures were taking walks with her beloved dog and sitting outside listening to the crickets.

Kathy is survived by her siblings Bill (Jessica) Durning of Fairbanks, AK, Pat (Bob) Johannsen and Maureen Dreschel of Collins; Bob Durning of Riddle, OR; Mike (Debbie) Durning of Ruggles; Robin Chandler of Greenwich; Denise (Jeff) Jenkins of San Luis Obispo, CA; sisters- and brothers-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Kevin Shea; her mother Mary Caley, father Bill Durning Sr., and sisters Maryann Miller and Linda Lachowyn.

Friends will be received on Sunday, July 18 from 3-6 PM at Eastman Funeral Home, 200 West Main Street, New London, OH 44851.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 19, at 1:00 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 18 Park Ave., New London, OH 44851.  Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, New London.

Memorial gifts may be made in Kathy’s name to the Friends of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, 1069 W. Main Street, Westerville, Ohio 43081 or the Franklin County Dog Shelter, 4340 Tamarack Blvd, Columbus, Ohio 43229.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.eastmanfuneralhome.com.

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