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SNAP SHOT MABEL DUREN

Occupation: Owner and manager and all-around-girl at Queen Street Cleaners.

I've been here since 1979.

Family: I'm married to James Duren, and I have three kids - they're old folks

now, and six grands. I come from a family of ten boys and four girls, and I'm

number 12 - cheaper by the dozen. I'm from South Carolina. Twelve days after I

graduated, I followed my older sister here [to Connecticut].

Hobbies: I collect turtles. Around Christmas time and birthdays, people say,

"I don't know what to buy her; she has everything." So I started from there. I

have 75 or 80 different turtles - planters, carvings, I have a turtle necklace

I got on a cruise, I have a turtle keychain, turtle pot holders and towels...

I used to bowl. And I like to do crafts - anything that's creative. I take a

dead flower, I paint it, and make it look like a centerpiece. Anything you

want me to do, I can make it.

Do you like to travel: I've been a lot of places. So, if it's ever, "Mabel

don't need to travel no more," I won't have no regrets. My hobby's here -

serving the community. I like my customers. You get to know each other almost

like family.

Favorite place you've been to: Hawaii was one. But I still like New England.

I've been here 42 years in Connecticut.

Highest bowling score: 227.

Organizations and activities: I just started going to Bible study. And I'm

very active in my church, Mt Pleasant A.M.E. Zion Church. I belong to Jennie

Bryant Temple No. 1187 in Danbury.

Do you like to read: Uh-huh. Novels. And I read Ebony, Jets, Woman's Day , and

I read the Bible - that's the most important one.

Favorite food: Right now my eating habits change constantly. I used to eat a

lot of fried chicken. Now I eat baked chicken, fish, macaroni and cheese - I

make my own. I'm not too much of a bread eater. [Desserts] I'll take a slice

now and then, but it's not something I run to.

Personal philosophy: Take one day at a time.