BETTE DURKIN, 87 AUSTINTOWN - Bette Durkin, 87, died peacefully at Hospice House following a brief illness. A long-time Northside and Liberty Township resident, Bette had lived the past six years at Humility House Assisted Living in Austintown. Born April 25, 1924, in Chicago, Bette was preceded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, "Joe" Durkin. She is survived by daughters Pat (Peter) Daniels and Casey Durkin; granddaughter Emily (Elliot Barden) Durkin Polish; and son-in-law Bob Polish. Bette was a corporate secretary working in New Jersey and New York when she and Joe met. They returned to Chicago to be married and then settled in Youngstown. Bette left her career behind to become a full-time homemaker and stay-at-home mom. As "empty nesters," Bette and Joe became foster parents and opened their home to infant foster babies for a number of different agencies. For 40 years, Bette was "Mrs. Claus" to Santa (husband Joe) as she drove the sleigh to more than 30 homes each Christmas Eve. She handmade his plush Santa costume, wrapped each gift he delivered and also set him up to play Santa for numerous St. Elizabeth Hospital children's Christmas events. Bette and Joe were members of the Start Lighter's Dance Club. For years, Bette was an avid bowler and gardener. Throughout her life, Bette was a passionate volunteer, helping numerous charities through direct hands-on volunteer work as well as providing leadership and strategic planning on various boards of trustees. Bette was a life member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart's Ladies Auxiliary, where she served as president and chaired many events. She continued with the MSC Education Fund Council until recently. Bette was an integral member of the St. Elizabeth's Junior Guild, where she dedicated years to raising thousands of dollars for St. Elizabeth's Hospital. She chaired many Junior Guild Charity Balls, Golf Outings and Hospital Follies. She was commended for serving more than 800 hours yearly to the Junior Guild throughout the 1980s. Bette played key roles in many PTA functions at Ursuline and St. Edward's Parish where she had been a member since first moving to Youngstown. Bette often opened her home in Liberty to the Diocesan Ladies of Charity and hosted their "Tea for Green" fundraiser. Other organizations that benefited from Bette's service and support included Liberty Blood Bank, Hospice, Youngstown Children's Theatre, the Heart Association, Muscular Dystrophy, St. Jude's, the Scleroderma Foundation and more. The YWCA awarded the Youngstown Woman of the Year Award to Bette for her civic dedication and commitment. As a final act of giving, Bette gave others the gift of life by becoming a complete organ donor, donating her body to the CWRU School of Medicine. Donations in Bette's honor may be made to Humility House, 755 Ohltown Road, Austintown, OH 44515; Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512; MSC Education Fund, P.O. Box 270, Aurora, IL 60507; or the Scleroderma Foundation, 1393 Northeast River Road, Lake Milton, OH 44429. A memorial Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Monsignor Robert J. Siffrin at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2011, at St. Edward's Church. Friends may call one hour prior to services at the church.