Janet Irene (Marley) Durkin

Janet Irene (Marley) Durkin, 84, of West Dover, Vt., and Falmouth, Mass., passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Friday, August 14.

The life she had already lived, and the more she had planned to live, gave no indication of her actual age. She was quick-witted, compassionate, and a dear friend to many. She lived a life full of love, adventure, fun, and a community of friends - what she fondly referred to as "the good life."

Mrs. Durkin and her husband Thomas raised four children, sailing and enjoying their beloved Falmouth on Cape Cod and skiing in Vermont in the winters. After working as a registered nurse and later as an educator in the early years of special education, she and Tom ran several successful businesses together. The first was The Good Life Frozen Yogurt Shop with two locations in Falmouth, Mass., one on Main Street and one in the former Casino Building on Falmouth Heights. They later received acclaim at The Longwood Inn in Marlboro, named "The Ultimate Inn" by New England magazine, and earned a three-star review in the Boston Globe for their restaurant there. The Durkins continued their hospitality at Bed & Breakfast of Waquoit Bay. For nearly three decades they greeted those from near and far as the friendly and welcoming couple that sold tickets at the base of Mount Snow. After "retiring" they continued to welcome travelers to their Airbnb on Locustfield Road in Falmouth.

Mrs. Durkin was passionate about her hopes and love for our country. She was always quick to offer help to those in need. In the past months, she had sewed over 400 face masks for donation to help combat the coronavirus.

It would be difficult to find a mother prouder of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Despite her disdain for contact sports, she had recently become an avid hockey fan while cheering on her two great-grandsons on Cape Cod and delighted in everything about her four brand new great-grandchildren. Perhaps her nursing background helped her earn the nickname "the baby whisperer" for her expertise in calming infants. All her great-grandchildren took an immediate shine to their "Gigi."

Mrs. Durkin is survived by her husband, Tom; son, Thomas (Susan) of Brattleboro, Vt.; daughters, Pattee of Falmouth, Mass., and Tracy, of Thermopolis; grandchildren, Michael (Brianna) Durkin, Emily (Brandon) McFadden, and Caitlin Durkin, all of Burlington, Vt., and Andrew (Krystal) Milligan of Redmond, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Amelia Milligan, of Redmond, Calif., Cole and Bode Jansen, of Truro, Mass., Bennett and Everett McFadden and Callum Durkin, of Burlington, Vt.; in-law, William Durkin of Winchester, N.H.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Peter.