Anna Durgin

RENO, NEV. — Anna Helen Chute Durgin, 85, peacefully passed away surrounded by dear friends on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, in Reno, Nev.

She was born on Nov. 8, 1927 in Casco and attended Fryeburg Academy for junior high and graduated from Lawrence High School. She went to seamstress school in Boston, Mass. and studied salesmanship at Harvard. After working at a bridal shop making wedding dresses, she settled in Raymond, where she married the love of her life, Charles E. Durgin.

She loved hunting and fishing and was a true outdoorswoman. She was a dedicated wife, mother, homemaker, cook and friend, who loved everyone she knew and was very generous to anyone who was in need, including all of her children.

After Charlie passed, she shared a home in Casco and another in Florida with childhood friend Norman (Normie) Stewart for nearly 20 years. With Normie, she was able to travel, make new friends and enjoy a full life.

She was a 50-plus year member of Mount Moriah Chapter No. 6 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Denmark. She followed the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Christian Science Church for much of her life and continued her faith with help from niece, Lynda Buck, for many years in Florida. When she moved to Reno, Nev., she became a regular attendee at the Greater Reno Church of Christ, where she loved being a part of the fellowship and continued to increase her faith in God and knowledge of His love.

Her final years were spent in the care of her daughter, Wendy, and her husband, Jim Wangberg, along with her best friend and biggest supporter, Little Anna. While visiting Maine, she was in the care of her son, Louis, and his wife, Darlene, where she became close to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Anna is survived by her children, sons Louis, Scot, Dana and Donie; daughter, Wendy; 11 grandchildren; along with many members of her extended family in Maine and many other parts of the country.

She was predeceased by her husband, Charles; father and mother Louis and Irene (Prescott) Chute; brother Richard; sisters Agnes Willey, Jackie Buck and Olivette Bailey, as well as many other precious relatives and friends.

A celebration of Anna’s life will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Northgate Park at 6450 Moonridge Terrace, Reno, Nev. A graveside service will be held at Murch Cemetery, South Casco on Saturday, July 27, at 3 p.m. For details, call Wendy at 775-771-4480 or Louis at 207-564-3518.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Anna to a charity of your choice or one of the following:  HOPE worldwide Reno Chapter, 6320 Fairhaven Place, Reno, NV 89523 (www.hopeww.org/reno); Mount Moriah Chapter No. 6, Order of the Eastern Star in Denmark; Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY  10001.