Hope A. Duff

Hope Duff Obituary

DUFF, HOPE A., formerly of Providence, entered into rest October 1, 2008 in San Antonio at the age of 92. She was born September 12, 1916 in Milo, Maine to the late Lawrence Williams & Hortense (Richards) Williams.

She was preceded in death by her husband Edward B. Duff, Sr. and grandson Edward B. Duff III. Survivors include her sons, Edward B. Duff, Jr. and Eugene B. Duff; grandchildren, Virginie, Chester, Desiree, Dawn, Hope E.; 15 great grandchildren; sister Ruth Dugdale of Warwick, R.I.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Hope was a distinguished registered nurse, having worked at several hospitals in Providence and Washington County, RI. Upon retirement from Gorham Manufacturing, Providence, RI, she moved to San Antonio, Texas where she did volunteer work for the San Antonio Public Library-Thousand Oaks Branch, subsequently working there as library aide. Hope enjoyed working with flowers and her yard; playing bridge and caring for her beloved cats-Samuel and Puss. She was a beloved wife, nurse, and mother; a truly compassionate soul who dedicated her life to caring for others.

A Memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, October 8 at Sunset Funeral Home. To pay tribute to the life of Mrs. Duff, please visit our website at www.mem.com for more information or send donations to Friends of the San Antonio Public Library (FOSAPL): c/o Sheila Figueroa, Chair, Gifts, Donations, & Memorials, P.O. Box 461523, San Antonio, TX 78246.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Providence Journal on Oct. 7, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Hope Duff

5 Entries

Eugene Duff

October 10, 2008

This is the eulogy delivered at the Memorial Service:

Good afternoon and thank you for coming to express your sympathy and condolences. For those of you who do not know me, I am Eugene Duff, my mother?s youngest son.
You can read a brief biography of my mother?s long life on the memorial website at www.mem.com.
I will not take a long time to re-iterate her all her life?s accomplishments as a wife, nurse, mother and friend.
However, I will make mention of several illuminating occurrences and happenings in her life. She was an excellent student, graduating as Sulutorian of her class at Searsport High School, Searsport, Maine. Possessing a deep conviction to help people, she went on to Main General School of Nursing in Portland, Maine, graduating as a Registered Nurse. She pursued her career as a nurse in several hospitals in Maine and Rhode Island. Her skill as an operating room nurse was so widely known, she was often the by-name OR Nurse of choice even after she had left one hospital for another.
While in Portland, Maine, she met her future husband, Edward B. Duff and married him on July 12, 1939 in Madawaska, New Jersey. When WWII broke out, her husband joined the US Army in May 1944 and was killed in action April 1945. She elected to never re-married, electing in stead to raise her two children by herself. Throughout her life, nothing was more important to her than the welfare of her children. And, if there is one thing above all else, her children never had want for anything! We always had a roof over our head, clothes on our back and food in our mouths! We always attended school and had help with our schoolwork when needed. She defended us against dangers, real or imaginary. I remember one time in particular when I was having let?s say, an altercation with a childhood neighbor and friend. The friend?s mother came out and was giving me a tongue lashing. Mom, who was preparing supper in the house, heard the ruckus and came storming out of the house, giving the neighbor a tongue-lashing of her own, arms flaying. All was alright except Mom forgot she was holding a butcher knife in her right hand. Needless to say, the neighbor executed a quick retreat!
Throughout her nursing career, she always gave complete and compassionate care. On one occasion, she treated a patient in the trauma room with a hang nail that was particularly painful. After excising the troublesome nail, the patient thanked my mother and went along her way. Mom thought nothing further of it, until several weeks later she received a letter from the patient expressing her deep appreciation for the care she received and the manner in which it was administered. The letter was signed by the patient, the wife of a member of Parliament of the United Kingdom of England and contained an invitation to have tea should she ever be in London, an invitation she was able to keep while visiting me when I was stationed in Germany with the USAF!
After she came to San Antonio, TX, to live with Edward and I, she continued to give of herself by volunteering at the Thousand Oaks Public Library, subsequently joining the staff as a Library Aide. She worked there until her health made that impossible. We realized her heath was failing when she tried to make the library a drive-thru by driving her car through the wall! Fortunately, no one was hurt. Her caring nature extended to animals as well as people. She adopted her beloved cat, Samuel, and took him home to be a friend of her long time companion, Puss, an attack cat fro RI! She cared for Samuel until the very end, sitting with him in her chair and making sure there was food and water for him! Sam misses her to this day and I am sure she is looking after him still!
Mom passed peacefully in her own bed in her own home?and that is the way she wanted it!
Good bye, Mom?we will miss you but we know that now you are with Dad, Nana and Woody. God speed!

Dawn Snell (Duff)

October 8, 2008

Rest in peace dear Nana. Thinking of you and your husband together again warms my heart. Give More Nana, Grandpa Van, and Grandma Rose a hug for me.

Joanne (Dugdale) MacConnell

October 8, 2008

I have fond memories of quahogging with Auntie Hope "down river", of traveling with her to see the New York World's Fair and to Europe as a teen, and to California, but most of all, I loved the family get-togethers with her in Narragansett. How she loved to garden and grow fresh vegetables. She used to take me berry picking. What wonderful memories she has given me. I loved my Auntie Hope.

Judy Anger (Weller)

October 7, 2008

Gene, My condolences on the passing of your Mother.

Chester Duff

October 7, 2008

My grandmother sure did love digging in the mud of narrow river for all sorts of shellfish. Above all these will be the memories that I will keep close. I loved her very much!

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