Linda Johnsen Durkin

Linda Johnsen Durkin died peacefully at her home in Winter Haven, Florida after a battle with vascular dementia.  She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Michael E. Durkin, her daughter, Rachel Durkin-Drga (Todd), granddaughter Madeleine Drga, her sister Debra Johnsen Donnelly, niece Christina Donnelly, nephew Matthew Donnelly, several cousins, and countless friends around the country. She was preceded in death by her father, James H. Johnsen and mother, Lorraine C. Lisk Johnsen.

A native of Chicago, IL, she always thought of Florida as “home”, after having grown up in Vero Beach, Brooksville and Lake Wales, over many years.  Some of her happiest memories came from her time at Lake Wales High School where she was a junior-varsity cheerleader for the Lake Wales Highlanders.  Though she moved to Chicago prior to her senior year of high school, she always considered Lake Wales High to be her alma mater and would go on to attend many reunions for the classes of ’63 and ’64.

She met her husband, Michael, in Dr. Fissinger’s choir at the University of Illinois-Chicago campus.  They married shortly thereafter and settled on the North side of Chicago.  Their daughter Rachel completed their family.

For more than thirty years, Linda worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago.   Starting at an entry level position, she rose to the Executive Assistant for multiple CEO’s of the hospital.  In 1991, Linda was convinced (by a former boss) to move to California to work at the Daughters of Charity National Health System – West Region Office.

It was while working at St. Joseph’s Hospital that Linda found her true love, theatre.  A staff production of Ten Little Indians was just the first of dozens of productions she would work on – as a chorus member, as a lead, and as a director.  She appeared in productions around the Chicago area (Glenview Theatre Guild, “Festival!” [St. John Brebeuf parish], Maine South Adult Players); California (Sunnyvale Community Players, Menlo Players Guild, Stage 1, The Little Theatre Company), and Texas (Lakeway Players, Way-Off Broadway Community Players and The Hourglass Players – of which she was a founding member.)  Some of her favorite roles were Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and Clairee in Steel Magnolias. As a Director the productions of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Bus Stop were two of her favorite projects.

While Linda loved to act, her favorite way to perform was to sing.  She always sang in the car and of course, in all of the musicals she was cast in over the years.  But by far, her favorite singing experience came with “The Trio”.  Cathy, Helen and Linda were a dynamic, talented group performing everything from ABBA to “Moonlight Serenade” to standards of the 30’w, 40’s and 50’s.  These three talented women, who would sing in perfect three-part harmony at the drop of a hat, became close, life-long friends.  In 2016, “The Trio” reunited on-board the Allure of the Seas, singing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in the cruise’s Karaoke contest.  Reuniting and performing this one last time was the highlight of the trip.

In 2000, Linda & Mike moved to Austin, Texas to be closer to their daughter.  The timing was perfect as their only grandchild, Madeleine, was born just six months later.  Linda’s love of music and reading were passed on to her granddaughter, as she was always singing to Maddie and reading her story after story.  She even created her own stories of Sim and Sem, zebra brothers who traveled the world in their hot-air balloon.  Her “role” as Grammy may have been her favorite yet.

In 2014, Linda finally got to “come home” with her move to Winter Haven, Florida.  Mike followed several months later after closing-up things in Austin.  Being back in Florida was the realization of her life-long dream.  She enjoyed reuniting with high school friends, traveling around the state to discover the “hidden Florida”, and just being in the beautiful Florida sunshine.

She has impacted countless lives and will be dearly missed.

A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Friday, July 29, 2022 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Linda L. Johnsen Durkin Memorial , which supports Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida.