Duffy, M. Paula (Rodrigues) of Duxbury, MA and St. Petersburg, FL, beloved wife of John A. (Jack) Duffy for 39 years, passed away peacefully on Monday November 8, 2010 surrounded by her family. She is survived along with her husband by her sons John A. Duffy Jr. of Duxbury, MA, Matthew P. Duffy of NYC, NY, her daughter Maria G. Duffy of NYC, NY, her mother Maria H. Rodrigues of Duxbury, MA and her grandchildren Colin P. Duffy and John A. Duffy III of Duxbury, MA, and many nieces and nephews.
Paula was born on the island of Santa Maria, Azores Portugal and graduated from nursing school in Ponta Delgada, San Miguel, Azores. Upon her immigration to the U.S., Paula worked as a nurse at Cambridge City Hospital. She also became a geriatric case worker and later a geriatric housing specialist for the city of Cambridge. She was the coordinator for the largest public - private (MIT) relocation of over 3,200 seniors from substandard housing into modern facilities in Cambridge.
Paula was also the assistant administrator of the Park North Hospital in San Antonio TX, founder and president of Transitions Unlimited, Syosset NY, owner/broker of Horan-Duffy Realty Syosset, NY, founder of the online company The Hat Connection, and the non-profit Giving at Home, Inc. Giving at Home, Inc. was one of the nation’s first online charities devoted to helping less fortunate people throughout the U.S.
Paula was the chairperson for the Duffy Family Foundation, Inc. she also served as President for the Syosset Village Association, President of the Nassau East Kiwanis Club and a member of numerous non-profit organizations including UNICEF, Harvest House, March of Dimes, and most recently the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Paula enjoyed gardening, painting, and crafts. Paula was committed to spreading hope among all people she touched by her unselfish desire to make a positive difference in people's lives.
Visiting Hours will be held from 4-8pm at the MacDonald Funeral Home, www.macdonaldfuneralhome.com, 1755 Ocean St, Route 139, Marshfield MA 02050 on Friday Nov 12. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Church, Duxbury MA on Saturday at 10:00 am. A private burial service will be held at the Mayflower Cemetery, Duxbury MA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Paula's memory to the Young Women with Breast Cancer Program. Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Attn: Martha Ruest, Development 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor Brookline, MA 02445