Stephanie C. Durr

Stephanie Carman Colombrito Durr, 74, of Lake Mary, Florida, went home to her heavenly Father on January 23, 2024. She was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on June 15, 1949. As a toddler, she moved with her family to South Florida, where she spent most of her life. She graduated from McArthur High School in 1967, but not before that fateful day in 10th grade when she walked into a junior class officers meeting and met her future husband, Richard Durr. Sparks flew, and on May 11, 1968, they married.

Carman put her plans to become a nurse on hold while she had her children, going back to school when her youngest started kindergarten. She received an AS degree in Nursing from Broward Community College and became an RN in 1983. She worked hard in her profession while still caring for her family, working in various specialties including the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatrics, newborn nursery, and as a school nurse. She was fascinated with research into infant stimulation and helped many parents and babies. In her long career, she welcomed new lives, and held many hands as they walked out the door to the next life, always gently encouraging and offering love.

Her faith was the common denominator throughout her life. She attended many churches, but no matter where she went, she always put her trust firmly in the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Praying for her loved ones, friends, patients and strangers was a calling she took seriously, and she daily lifted her voice in praise to God.

Carman loved sewing, crocheting, reading, and working on the family genealogy. She wasn’t terribly fond of cooking, but her family never went hungry. She also didn’t like to clean, but her house was always spotless. Most of her time was devoted to her family, who miss her terribly. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Richard, who cared for her at home to the end, and by her three children whose lives, values and faith were shaped by her unconditional love – Richard Durr Jr. (Jenny), Christina Mandelski (Michael), and Jeanne Riegert (Scott), and by her beloved grandchildren, Elizabeth Thomas (Michael), Richard Durr III, Lilian Mandelski, and Catherine Mandelski. She is also survived by her sister, Claire Davis, and her brother, Thomas Colombrito III.

As her family says goodbye to Carman for now, they offer prayers for all dementia and Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, that a cure for this terrible disease is found.

The family will receive friends from 10-11 am on Friday, January 26 2024 at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 5000 CR 46A, Sanford, Florida 32771. The celebration of life service will begin at 11 am with interment in Oaklawn Park Cemetery to follow.