Mary (Ginny) Virginia (Lanahan) Durnan

Mary Virginia (Ginny) Durnan passed away on July 8th. She was comforted and surrounded by family. She was a long time resident of Wilmington. Born on July 1, 1937, to Isabel Keaveny and William Lanahan Jr.

Her father worked for Hercules Powder Co. in Pennsylvania and New York, but a tragic explosion cut short his life in 1942.

Isabel and Ginny returned to Wilmington where Ginny attended Ursuline Academy then Alexis I. DuPont high school, where she met her husband to be, Phillip. She studied one year of Liberal Arts at Mt. St. Agnes College, Baltimore, MD. Then on to University of Pennsylvania to study and obtain her degree as a Dental Hygienist. Her career lasted 48 years and she never tired of it. After graduating Penn, she married her childhood sweetheart, Phillip Durnan. They were married 41 yrs. until his death in 2003. Following his death, Ginny spent her winters in her favorite place, Avalon, NJ.

Ginny had many interests, that showcased her immense creativity. For years, she designed bridal flowers for young brides all over Delaware. Her business flourished. Then her interest focused on miniature doll houses. Again, she excelled at buying and building dollhouses and room boxes. Finally, she studied Genealogy for years. She would haunt libraries throughout the region to find information on her long dead relatives.

But her greatest love of all was her family and friends. Most of her friends have been so since grade school. She is survived by her son, Alex, his girlfriend Erin Murphy, her sister Ellen Ostman Tampa, FL, her brother, Stephen Dougherty Northeast, MD, many good friends, as well as many nieces and nephews.

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