Rita B. (Connolly) Duran

RITA B. (CONNOLLY) DURAN – of Woburn, September 6th, at ninety-three years of age. Beloved wife of the late Timothy J. Duran, Sr. Cherished mother of Ann M. DiMarzo of Clinton, Rita B. Murray of Worcester, M. Lauretta Nguyen, her husband Hung of Woburn, and the late Timothy J. Duran, Jr. Dear sister of Sr. Mary Michael, S.N.D of Ipswich, Louise Viles of Dedham, and the late Mary Maloney and Ann Joyce. Very special Nana to Jason M. Duran of Woburn and eleven other grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A Funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, Thursday, September 14th at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10:30 a.m. Interment in Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to call Wednesday, September 13th, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. At the family’s request, donations may be made in Rita’s honor to the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc., P.O. Box 2157, Framingham, MA 01703.

OBITUARY:

Rita B. (Connolly) Duran passed away Wednesday, September 6th at her home, amongst her loving family. The beloved wife of the late Timothy J. Duran, Sr., she was ninety-three years of age.

Born and raised in Woburn’s Hammond Square section of the City, Rita was one of five children, all girls, of the late John M. and Mary J. (Kelly) Connolly.

A St. Charles graduate in 1941 and President of her Class, Rita remained very active throughout the years with the St. Charles Alumni. Rita was a very devout Catholic,having been an active participant in the parish for all her life. Once she graduated, she began her career as a secretary under Monsignor Christopher O’Neil whom she worked with for over twenty years. Rita was also a very active member of the St. Charles Catholic Women’s Club, and Catholic Daughters of America.

After retiring from her position at St. Charles, Rita continued to work after St. Charles as the executive assistant for the Chancery at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese Offices of Boston, where she remained for an additional twenty years.

While attending St. Charles’ Fair Day in 1945, Rita was admired from afar from a man named Timothy Duran who had returned home from the war. The two met later on and it was love at first sight. They were married shortly thereafter and she moved to the south end of Woburn with him.

A hard working woman, Rita raised four children proudly, while working for the church and helping Timothy with his shop, Duran’s Market which he started before he had met her. Everything was family for Rita. She helped put all her children through school, and as a Nana to many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she loved them all unconditionally.

Rita got the opportunity to travel to Europe with close friends and relatives. One of her great passions was Boston College Football and watching Doug Flutie play. She had been a B.C ticket holder for a straight forty years! In addition to her hobbies, Rita loved to ski in New Hampshire at King’s Ridge and spend time with her family and friends in Rye.

Rita will always be remembered for her skills and organization, which made her an exceptional executive secretary. Anything she put her mind and hands to, was beyond expectation. Always dressed to the “nines”, Rita was always dressed impeccably, and never without a hat to match!

Sadly, in addition to her parents Jon and Mary and her husband Timothy, Rita was predeceased by her son Timothy Duran, Jr. and her sisters, Mary Maloney and Ann Joyce.

Rita is lovingly survived by her children Ann M. DiMarzo of Clinton, Rita B. Murray of Worcester and M. Lauretta Nguyen, her husband Hung of Woburn. Dear sister of Sr. Mary Michael, S.N.D of Ipswich and Louise Viles of Dedham. Very special Nana to Jason M. Duran of Woburn and eleven other grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A Funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, Thursday, September 14th at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10:30 a.m. Interment in Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to call Wednesday, September 13th, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. At the family’s request, donations may be made in Rita’s honor to the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc., P.O. Box 2157, Framingham, MA 01703.