Martha "Mitzi" Durland Griffith

Mitzi Griffith died in her sleep Sunday November 22 at the age of 95, at the Brookdale Beckett Meadows assisted living center in Austin, Texas. The matriarch of a large family, she was adored by so many and loved them all in return.

Mitzi was born October 11, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, to Harry Elson Durland and Elvera Schueneman, the third of four Durland sisters. The family moved to Evanston, Illinois, New Orleans, Louisiana, and back to Chicago before settling in McHenry, Illinois. It was at a USO dance at the Naval Station Great Lakes in 1942 that Mitzi, age 16, met the love of her life, United States Navy Pharmacist’s Mate Howard Griffith, age 17, from Ft. Worth, Texas. They married after the war and following a period of time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Dearborn, Michigan, they settled in McHenry and then Glenview, Illinois, to raise six children. She was passionate about her faith, and together with Howard, she volunteered to aid the homeless at the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago and traveled for Campus Crusade for Christ in the 1960’s.

She was a proud native of Chicago but she was happiest traveling around the country in an RV with the love of her life. After several years in Great Falls, Virginia, in 1976 she moved to Austin, Texas. Eventually she joined Riverbend Church, sang soprano in the choir, and became a member of the Stevens Ministry, while she and Howard started and managed their own real estate property management company.

Mitzi was the kind of person who could light up the room when joining friends for bible readings or general conversation. One of her granddaughters summarized it best: “Our beautiful grandma passed away in her sleep after brightening this world for a full 95 years. She was a hat-wearing, Jesus loving, lip-kissing, convertible driving, golf watching, loud laughing and smiling lady. She was a huge personality and a true matriarch. She’s the end of an era for our immediate family. She loved her kids, her grandkids, and great grandkids fiercely. If you ever felt down about yourself, she would lift you up fast with her shower of compliments. We will miss her and her squeeze-the-breath-out-of-you hugs. We all thought we were her favorite because she made us feel so dang special. We’re glad you are finally at peace Grandma. We know you’ve been wanting to get up there with grandpa for so many years. Thank you for loving us so unabashedly”.

Mitzi is survived by her sister Mary Durland, of Woodstock, Illinois; children, Howard (Susan) Griffith of San Diego, California, Deborah (Dennis) Griffith of Venice, Florida, Harry Durland (Idona) Griffith of Austin, Texas, Thomas (Marcia) Griffith of Austin, Texas, Mitzi (Richard) Macomber of Austin, Texas; and grandchildren Brian Ford of Sarasota, Florida, Deborah Ford of Gurnee, Illinois, Diane Ford of Gurnee, Illinois, Rebekah Rosemeyer of Austin, Texas, Michael Griffith of Austin, Texas, Nicole Griffith of Austin, Texas, Amanda Harvey of San Diego, California, Kelly Atteberry of San Diego, California, Jonathan Jacoby of San Diego, California, Paris Griffith of San Diego, California; and twelve great grandchildren, Jonathan Jacoby, Harlee Atteberry, Scarlett Atteberry, Roslynn Macomber, Brice Ford, Taylor Ford, Bronwyn Harvey, Quinn Harvey, Nola Griffith, Mabel Griffith, Tilly Griffith, and Langston Reid.

She is predeceased by her husband Howard Griffith; her son David (Ellen) Griffith of Austin, Texas; her parents; and sisters Jane Kidder of McHenry, Illinois, and Joan Larkin of McHenry, Illinois.

Family and friends, please visit www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com and feel free to leave a memory or post a picture. A memorial service and celebration will be announced at a later time.