Barbara Tate Durant
June 9th, 1941 - November 11th, 2021
Share Book of Memories with a Friend
Please enter the name and email details so that we can send your friend a link to the online tribute. No names or addresses will be collected by using this service.
Barbara's Obituary
Barbara Durant passed away at Holland Hospital on November 11, 2021, surrounded by her loving Family. She suffered a stroke and was unable to recover. It is with extreme sadness that we say good bye to our amazing wife, mother and grandmother. She was born to Thomas Tate and Thelma Tate (Cole) in Ypsilanti, MI on June 9, 1941, the eldest of three children.
Barb graduated from Roosevelt High School in Ypsilanti where she was a cheerleader and played the violin. She spent a summer in Europe performing with the Michigan Youth Choral. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education and later her master’s degree in Academic Advising from Eastern Michigan University.
Barb worked as an Academic Advisor, first at Eastern Michigan University, and later at Lake Michigan Community College. She was a member and past President of the South Haven Garden Club. After retirement, she discovered a wonderful community in Green Valley, AZ where she enjoyed her last eighteen winters. She volunteered there at The White Elephant, a thrift store and enjoyed the sunny, mild winters and beautiful mountain scenery. She felt strongly that one person’s discarded item could be someone else’s treasure.
Barb enjoyed gardening and traveling, but most of all she loved gathering her family and friends together and sharing her love and advice. When her children brought friends to visit, they would often find themselves in an impromptu counseling session. She welcomed anyone and everyone and took genuine interest in everyone she met. She had a gift for helping others to find their direction in life.
Barb is survived by her husband of 60 years, Bill Durant, and her four children Teresa Paschal, Cheri (Vern) Durant, Rob (Aroon) Durant, and Jason (Rebecca) Durant, and five grandchildren Matthieu Paschal, Guerin Paschal, Laura Durant, David Durant, and Shiloh Durant, her brother Tom (Sharon) Tate, and sister Betsy Schoolmaster, and many other loved family members.
A Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 2 p.m. until the time of the Memorial Service at 3 p.m. at Filbrandt Chapel- Starks Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1076 S. Bailey Ave, South Haven, Michigan, 49090. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit, www.starksfamilyfh.com
Barb graduated from Roosevelt High School in Ypsilanti where she was a cheerleader and played the violin. She spent a summer in Europe performing with the Michigan Youth Choral. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education and later her master’s degree in Academic Advising from Eastern Michigan University.
Barb worked as an Academic Advisor, first at Eastern Michigan University, and later at Lake Michigan Community College. She was a member and past President of the South Haven Garden Club. After retirement, she discovered a wonderful community in Green Valley, AZ where she enjoyed her last eighteen winters. She volunteered there at The White Elephant, a thrift store and enjoyed the sunny, mild winters and beautiful mountain scenery. She felt strongly that one person’s discarded item could be someone else’s treasure.
Barb enjoyed gardening and traveling, but most of all she loved gathering her family and friends together and sharing her love and advice. When her children brought friends to visit, they would often find themselves in an impromptu counseling session. She welcomed anyone and everyone and took genuine interest in everyone she met. She had a gift for helping others to find their direction in life.
Barb is survived by her husband of 60 years, Bill Durant, and her four children Teresa Paschal, Cheri (Vern) Durant, Rob (Aroon) Durant, and Jason (Rebecca) Durant, and five grandchildren Matthieu Paschal, Guerin Paschal, Laura Durant, David Durant, and Shiloh Durant, her brother Tom (Sharon) Tate, and sister Betsy Schoolmaster, and many other loved family members.
A Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 2 p.m. until the time of the Memorial Service at 3 p.m. at Filbrandt Chapel- Starks Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1076 S. Bailey Ave, South Haven, Michigan, 49090. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit, www.starksfamilyfh.com
Memorial Contributions
South Haven Garden Club P.O. Box 464 South Haven, Michigan 49090
White Elephant, 601 N. LaCanada Dr., Green Valley, AZ, 85614
Service Details
View the current service details below. Sign up for email or text updates to receive notifications of any changes to service schedules or important information.