Pearline Ennis Duranske

Pearline Ennis Duranske was born on Friday, October 13, 1933, in a little community between Raleigh and Cary, then called Caraleigh.  She was the fifth child born to Mary Elizabeth Carter Ennis and John Garland Ennis, a cotton mill worker.  At that time, she had two brothers, James Atlas, and Lewis Alvin (Dick), and two sisters, Alma (who was Dick’s twin) and Rosa Maxine.  Later, one more sister, Mary Lee (Merline), and a brother, John Richard, were added to the family.

She treasured her big sister, Alma, who potty trained her, taught her to walk, bought her toys, took her to church, and led her to faith in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. 

The family moved to Peace Street in Raleigh shortly after she was born.  She loved going to Pullen Park, eating ice cream, and riding the carousel.  On Labor Day 1943, the family moved to Goldsboro.  While walking to school one day she was approached by a Peace College art student wanting her to be a portrait model, replacing a boy who had been their model.  He said she looked a lot like him.  The boy was her brother, Dick.  She took the job.

She loved the snow.  Her mom made snow cream, usually vanilla, but when they could afford it, she added cocoa or chocolate syrup.  Pearline continued making snow cream all her life with the same recipe.

Her favorite subject in school was Home Economics.  She was elected to a State Future Homemakers Association office and a leadership symposium at Michigan State University in 1951. She also loved journalism and continued to have a love for writing and journaling all her life. 

She met Ron Duranske November 22, 1951, and they were married September 21, 1952.  They had three children:  a daughter Roni; two years later a son Matt; and nine years after that, another daughter, Michelle, made a surprise appearance.  From 1981 until she went home to meet the Savior, Pearline lived in the house on Blue Grass Road that she and Ron built. Her beloved Ron went home to be with the Lord March 24, 2009. 

The first Bible verses Pearline learned were John 3:16 and Romans 8:28. She had a Bible verse to meet every need in her life and to share with others, and she generously supported Christian causes. 

Pearline lived with heart blockages for several years.  There were special people in her life who lovingly cared for her for years after Ron died.  We are forever grateful for those who blessed her life by visiting, cleaning, mowing, chopping trees, yard work, meeting her at McDonalds, doing her hair, pedicures, shopping, bringing her blueberries, home repairs, and many other things along with all the prayers lifted on her behalf. 

She is survived by her three children; Roni Squire (Stephen), Matt Duranske (Jodie), and Michelle Cassidy (Sean); nine grandchildren, Daniel Myers (Shannon), Tony Myers (Charity), Mary Henson (Jonathan), Anna Over (Travis), Esther Crouse (Jake), Stephen Duranske, Faith Kivette (Jacob), Ian Cassidy (Brigitta), and Lily Cassidy; nine great grandchildren, Tiberius Myers, Raider Myers, Hannah Beth Myers, Anthony Myers, Elliot Myers, Autumn Joy Myers, Amelia Crouse, Judah Crouse, and Marzie Crouse; her brother John Richard and wife Toni, and a cherished sister-in-law, Jane Ennis.

A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, July 22, 2023, at North Ridge Bible Chapel, 7100 Harps Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615.