PEABODY - James R. McDuff, 64, of Bedford, formerly of Peabody and Lynn, died Friday evening, May 7, 2010 at the Kindred Hospital North Shore in Peabody following a long illness.
Born in Peabody, he was the son of the late Rudolph E. and Catherine T. (Manning) McDuff. He was a graduate of Lynn Vocational High School in 1963 where he was the senior class president and played on the football team.
Prior to his military service, he was employed by Pools by McDuff in Danvers, a business owned and operated by his brother, Ray.
An Army veteran, he served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 with the 151st Transportation Company and attained the rank of Specialist 4th Class. He has been a resident of the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford since his release from active duty.
Jim is survived by three brothers and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Josephine McDuff of Revere, Michael and Theresa McDuff of Londonderry, NH, Leonard and Mary McDuff of Peabody, four sisters and three brothers-in-law, Joan and Francis Johansen of Salem, Margaret “Peggy” Ajootian of Middleton, Marie and Paul Pessa of Erie, PA, Kathleen and Allen Peterson of Lynn and several nieces and nephews.
His funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 9 am from the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 am at the St. Thomas The Apostle Church, Route 114, North St., Salem, at the Peabody line. Visiting hours are Tuesday, 3 to 7 pm. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Burial is in St. Mary Cemetery, Salem. For those who desire, donations may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. For on-line guestbook and other information, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.