Austin M. Durocher

Austin M. Durocher of Derby, Vermont, was born July 6, 1997, in Newport, Vermont. A graduate of North Country Union High School, Austin had a quiet, good-natured presence and a warm, shy smile that those close to him recall with affection. He enjoyed computer gaming and took pride in his fitness — weightlifting and bodybuilding were among his interests.

Family was central to Austin’s life. He is survived by his mother, Karen (Handy) Miller, and stepfather Arjay Miller of Orleans, and by his father, Michael Durocher, and stepmother Jennifer Durocher of Derby. He is also remembered by his brother Landen Durocher and sister Harlee Miller; stepbrothers and stepsisters who were part of his extended household; and by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who loved him. The obituary lists several relatives by name and notes that he was predeceased by a stepbrother, Nicholas Miller. Those who knew Austin often speak of the small everyday things — the quick joke, the steady presence, and the devotion he showed to his family.

Funeral services were arranged through the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home. Friends and family gathered to honor his life and the relationships that mattered most to him. In place of flowers, the family requested contributions be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, reflecting a wish that others might be helped in the wake of a loss like Austin’s.

Austin’s life, though brief, left an imprint on his community and his family. This remembrance honors the person he was — a son, sibling, grandson, friend, and a young man with quiet passions — and acknowledges the love and memories he leaves behind.