Sandra T. ("Rustie") Durgan

Sandra (Tourtelotte) “Rustie” Durgan, 81, of East Hampton and Marlborough, widow of Carlton Earl Durgan, passed away peacefully at Marlborough Health Care on Friday Dec. 27th. Born Oct. 19, 1938 in Hartford, she was raised in Southington, CT on the Stakey Farm by her loving foster parents Lydia and Fred Stakey. Sandra raised her family in East Hampton on Cone Rd. for 20 years, and then on Gadpouch Rd in Cobalt for 35 years. Sandra was a resident of Marlborough Health Care for the past 6 years. Sandra attended East Hampton High School where she met her beloved husband of 54 years and was married in 1956.  Sandra was a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts and spent many years as a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader participating in summer camps at the Fireman’s Grounds at Salmon River and holding summer meetings for the girls at her home. She was part of the committee that helped create what is now known as the Daisy Scouts and was a summer host for International Exchange Girl Scouts. She was also a cheerleading coach at Vinal Tech in Middletown for many years. Sandra enjoyed bird watching, house plants, flowers, cats, NASCAR, country music, and UCONN Women’s basketball. Above all, she especially enjoyed her children and family. She passed down her love of sewing, embroidery, knitting, and crafting to her children, scouts and friends.  Sandra was a most beloved mother, wife and best friend who always had a smile for everyone. She is survived by her two daughters Dianne G. Durgan, Debra F. Wilmes and husband Michael, her sister Francina “Tiny” I. Emilia, four grandchildren Craig S. Sobolewski and wife Sarah York, Jaclyn N. Sobolewski, Jennifer L. Sobolewski, and Alicia M. Wilmes and fiancé Andrew Fleisher, her foster brothers Kenneth “Buddy” Stakey, William Stakey, and several nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Besides her loving husband Carlton and her foster parents, Sandra was predeceased by her daughter Darlene L. Durgan, brothers Francis S. Tourtelotte, George T. Downer, Donald O. Tourtelotte, and her sister Geraldine V. Eskedal.  Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 2nd at 11:00AM at the Spencer Funeral Home, 112 Main St, East Hampton. Burial will be at Union Hill Cemetery in Middle Haddam. We would like to thank the staff at Marlborough Healthcare for their caring and support. For those who wish to make a donation in her memory, please support the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org or the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org  To leave online condolences please visit www.spencerfuneralhomeinc.com.

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