Antonina Durso

Antonina Durso, 94, a 63-year resident of North Stamford, CT, passed away peacefully on February 10th, 2024, at her home.

Antonina was born on October 18th, 1929, to her parents, Salvatore and Carmela Gurissi, in the Little Italy section of Manhattan, New York, and grew up in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, NY. She was a stellar student at Bay Ridge High School and was a member of ARISTA, a scholastic honor society.

Ann met her future husband, John N. Durso, at Coney Island Beach and was married in 1949. Their life together started in Brooklyn, and then they moved to their first home in Valley Stream, New York, and ultimately raised a family in Stamford.

While raising five children she was actively involved in many hobbies and volunteer activities. She loved gardening and cooking and created sumptuous meals for her appreciative family and friends. She was also a literacy volunteer and helped run Blood Drives for the Red Cross.

Ann was an avid reader and had a deep understanding of many topics. She was a very early adopter of cooking with natural foods and preventative health care techniques. Ann loved to take long walks and loved swimming - her grandchildren loved watching her dash headlong into the surf and subsequently coined the phrase “grandma dive.” But she will be remembered mostly as an incredibly generous and loving person, working tirelessly for the benefit of her family and friends.

Ann is survived by her five children Dr. Carol Sarokhan and her husband Dr. Alan Sarokhan; John Durso and his wife Gail Schmidt Durso; Robert Durso and his wife Patricia Coleman; Dr. Janet Durso and her husband Ray Schnittker; and Thomas Durso and his wife Dr. Patricia Keefe Durso. Ann was extremely proud of and took enormous joy in her 11 grandchildren Lisa Dietrick, Leslie Durso, John Durso, Julie Durso, Joseph Sarokhan, Emily Sarokhan Truss, Dr. Alison Sarokhan Lavery, Sarah Durso, Evan Durso, Madeline Durso and Isabelle Durso; and nine great grandchildren Johnny Durso, Hank Durso, Amy Durso, Mitch Durso, Jack Dietrick, Samuel Dietrick, Hudson Truss, Logan Truss and Tyler Lavery.

Ann is predeceased by her husband, John, her sister, Sally, and brother, Harry.

Calling hours for Ann will be held at Lacerenza Macari Funeral Home in Stamford, CT, on Wednesday, February 14th between 4:00PM and 8:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 15th at 11:00AM at the Church of the Holy Spirit located at Scofieldtown Road in Stamford, CT. Burial will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.lacerenzafh.com