Priscilla A. Durkin, a classics teacher for 33 years and 53-year resident of Melrose, died Thursday morning Jan. 1 at Wingate at Reading following a period of declining health. She was 64.

She was born in Boston on Feb. 10, 1944, a daughter of the late Arthur Durkin and Catherine Kennedy Durkin.

She was raised in Mission Hill and Melrose. She graduated from Our Lady of Nazareth Academy in 1961, received her bachelor of arts degree from Newton College of the Sacred Heart in 1965 and earned a master of arts degree in classics from Harvard University in 1967. She pursued additional studies in classics at Harvard, the American Academy in Rome and Yale University. She taught classics at Milton Academy, Boston Latin Academy, Wakefield High School and Boston Latin School. She was very active with the Boston College Alumni Association where she was a former chairman of the Spiritual Life Committee and a supporter of the McMullen Museum of Art. She was a member of the American Classical League, the Classical Association of New England, the Harvard Club and a subscriber of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years. She loved traveling to Europe and she leaves many dear friends, colleagues and students.

Priscilla was the loving sister of Arthur (Buzz) Durkin and his wife Judy of Atkinson, N.H. and the late Nancy D. Orazem and her husband Dr. Garrett Orazem of Edgartown. She was the cherished aunt of Lucy Pelham and her husband Michael of Natick and Timothy D. Orazem of Melrose.

A funeral Mass was held on Monday at St. Mary’s Church in Melrose. Interment will be in the Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. Gifts in Priscilla’s memory may be made to School Sisters of Notre Dame, Department of Mission Advancement, 345 Belden Hill Road, Wilton, CT 06897-3898 or to Associated Alumnae and Alumni of the Sacred Heart, 801 South Spoede Road, St. Louis, MO 63131-2699.