Obituary of Shelby Jean Durkin

Shelby Durkin South Plainfield - Shelby J. Durkin, 73, died on Sunday, October 31, 2010 at the Greenbrook Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Greenbrook. She was born Aug. 24, 1937, in Sugar Notch, Pa. to Michael and Bertha Henicheck. She grew up in Sugar Notch where she attended Hanover Twsp. Schools. After high school, she went on to become a Registered Nurse graduating from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Wilkes-Barre. Her nursing career spanned over 35 years, beginning as a staff nurse at Cornell University Hospital in New York City. She returned to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital working there until she married in 1960 and moved to Vineland, NJ where she joined the staff at Newcomb Hospital. In 1961, Shelby and her husband , Jerry, moved to South Plainfield and have resided in the community ever since. During the past 30 years, Shelby had worked as a nurse for many years with the Birchwood Nursing Home in Edison and later at the McCutchen Care Center in North Plainfield. She spent the remainder of her career as a private duty nurse and as a volunteer nurse for the Muhlenberg Hospice program. Shelby was a long time active parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in South Plainfield where, for many years she, along with her husband, ran the wine and peaches booth and helped make the food at the annual Bazaar. Mrs. Durkin was an expert gardener and had enjoyed many hours in her garden. She also enjoyed arts and craft. She is predeceased by her husband Gerard F., her parents Bertha and Michael Henicheck, 2 brothers; Michael and Robert Henicheck and by her son in law Frank DiGiovanni. Surviving are her teo daughters and sons in law: Joanne and Jim Cox of South Plainfield and Mary Sue DiGiovanni of Hampton, NJ, her two sons and daughters in law: Gerard M. and Tracy J.Durkin of St. Petersburg, Fl and James and Rose Durkin of Edison, her sister Patricia Cavanaugh of Temple Pa., one brother James Henicheck of Florida and by her six grandchildren; Jaclyn Cox Veasey, Jimmy Cox, Stephanie DiGiovanni and Jimmy, Gina and Jerry F. Durkin. Funeral services will begin on Friday, November 5, 2010 at 9:15 AM in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00AM in Sacred Heart RC Church. Interment will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 4, 2010 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 22512 Gateway Dr. Center, Clarksburg, MD 20871 or to the Haven Hospice, 65 James St. Edison, NJ 08820.