Stella Marie Harkin

Mrs. Stella Marie Harkin, 78, Pass Christian, died Monday morning December 7, 2009 at home in Pass Christian. Mrs. Harkin was born Stella Marie Durand in Spooner, Wisconsin as the middle of seven children of Felix A. and Anna Jean Durand (Fontaine). She married John Lewis Harkin on June 10, 1950 and they lived in Sarasota, Florida from 1955 to 2004. She was first a member of St. Martha’s Catholic Church and sang in the choir. After moving from the downtown area, she transferred to Incarnation Catholic Church where she sang in the choir and taught CCC classes. She became a founding member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church where she sang in the choir and when John Harkin became a Deacon, participated right along with him in the required classes of a Deacon’s wife. During her time in Sarasota, she spent many years in the Sarasota Chapter of the Sweet Adelines participating in numerous shows and concerts. She was a staunch supporter of her children’s activities participating in Girl Scouts, Pop Warner League Football, P.T.A., and AAU Swim Meets as a timer and score keeper. Since moving to Mississippi in November, 2004, she attended Trinity Church (Episcopal) and again sang in the choir. Mrs. Harkin was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Harkin (June,27,2004); her parents Felix A. and Anna J. Durand; brothers, Maurice Durand and Felix Durand. Survivors include: two sisters, Noella A. Hage, and Theresa A. Lowe; two brothers, Oliver A. Durand, and Steven H. Durand; two children, daughter, Jeanne Marie (Fred) Tagge (Harkin) and son, Daniel John (Terry) Harkin, and four grandchildren, James Fredrick Tagge, Coral Ann (JR) Farrell (Tagge), Erin Kathleen Harkin, Shaun Ford Harkin. A service of Christian Burial will be 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at First United Methodist Church, 526 E. 2nd Street, Pass Christian, MS where friends may visit from 1 p.m. to time of service. Her cremains will be scattered in the Memorial Garden at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sarasota, Florida. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Trinity Church Building Fund' P.O. Box 459, Pass Christian, MS 39571 and/or Deaconess Hospice, 15487 Oak Lane Ste. 200A, Gulfport, MS 39503. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com