Cornelia “Toots” Durning, 81, of Las Vegas, NV, died Thursday, January 10, 2008 in the Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, Las Vegas. Mrs. Durning was born in Malden, MA on December 6, 1926, the youngest of seven children of the late Gerrit and Teuntje (Marizon) deGroot. While still young she and her family moved to Derry, NH and took up farming. She had a passion for growing things that lasted from then until her last day. In 1956 she married Chester P. “Chet” Durning, Sr.. After retiring they traveled most of the east coast from Florida in the winter to Maine in the summer. They moved to Virginia in 2000. After Chet passed away in 2002, Toots stayed in Virginia until 2006 when she moved to Las Vegas after having a stroke to be closer to her son. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting things for her friends and family.
She is survived by a son, Edward P. Durning, daughter in law, Jennifer Fournier, granddaughter, Anastasia, her brother Jacob deGroot, and sister Wilhelmina. In addition to many nieces and nephews living in and around Derry, she is also survived by grandsons Chester P. Durning III and Andrew Durning.
A calling hour was held Thursday, January 24, 2008 from 12-1pm prior to the 1:00pm funeral service in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. The burial was in the Forest Hill Cemetery, Derry.