Barbara Dunne

Long time Durango resident Barbara Dunne lost her battle with cancer on the 20th of November 2013 at her daughter's home in Aurora. She had recently turned 70 in September.


Barbara was born and raised in Browns Mills, New Jersey. She attended Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross in Washington DC, majoring in biology and religious studies. After she completed college, she moved to California to continue her studies in education and was in Teacher Corps.


Barbara then returned to the Washington DC area where she taught at several schools for over 20 years. After visiting the Four Corners region during a vacation in the late 80s, she fell in love with the area and took up a position in the Montessori program at Manaugh Elementary in Cortez where she worked until retirement.


Inher retirement, Barbara had more time to pursue her passions including traveling, cooking, reading, looking after numerous pets, gardening, and embarrassing her children by striking up conversation with random strangers. Barbara was also a very active member of the community, tutoring both school children and inmates at the La Plata County jail. Additionally, Barbara was an involved member of St Marks Church, Daughters of the King, Sacred Heart Church where her husband was a deacon and the Manna Soup Kitchen where she was a member of the board.


Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Joseph E Dunne III in the spring of 2010. She is survived by her sons Lonnie Hicks of High Point, NC, Jonathan Dunne of Haringey North London, her daughter Joanne Dunne and grandson Liam Martin both of Aurora, Colorado.


Barbara's funeral service will be held at 11am on Thursday, December 5th at St Mark's Episcopal Church (910 E. Third Ave., Durango, CO 81301). The service will be directly followed by a reception at the church. Barbara was dearly loved and will be desperately missed.



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