Jean Druffel Duggan

Duggan, Jean Druffel
April 5, 1915 - November 20, 2010
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the second child of Charles and Helen Druffel, Jean Druffel Duggan passed into the arms of the Lord November 20, 2010, after a valiant attempt to recover from pneumonia and lung complications, at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica surrounded by family.

In the early 1920's, Helen and Charles Druffel moved to California with their young daughters Helen and Jean; their two youngest children Charles and Charlotte were born in Los Angeles.

After attending Immaculate Heart High School, Jean enrolled at UCLA and joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She soon met a young handsome student, Daniel Duggan. She knew that Dan was the man for her, especially since her mother Helen thought so highly of him.

Dan and Jean got married on December 6, 1941, the day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Their honeymoon began and ended the next day in Palm Springs. Their son, Dennis was born in 1944, followed by Rick in 1946, and Joan in 1948. After moving to Brentwood in the early 1950's, Jean and Dan had a busy life raising three children. Dan worked long hours as a real estate office manager and eventually made general partner of Coldwell Banker & Co. The family spent summer vacations fly-fishing on trout streams, boating and waterskiing. In 1967, Dan and Jean bought a summer home on Balboa Island.

Jean was lovely, sweet, outgoing and very athletic. She once rode her bike from her home in the Hollywood Hills to the beach and back, ending her day with a two set tennis match near her home. She loved tennis, paddle tennis, golf, and played bridge for many years at Los Angeles Country Club and the Santa Monica Beach Club. Jean was also dedicated and active in Catholic charities throughout her life.

Jean never lost her sense of humor and warm upbeat personality. She had many, many friends. She was very strong and independent, and seldom, if ever, complained about anything or anybody. Everything seemed to always be "great" with Jean, and she seldom, if ever, asked anyone to do anything for her. She had two favorite sayings: "Waste not, want not," which was why she saved everything and never spent much. Her other favorite saying was, "a woman could not be trusted if she told her age because a woman who told her age would tell anything."

Jean is survived by her son Dennis, his wife Terry and grandchildren Christy Duggan Osborne, her husband Chris and great-granddaughter Ella Osborne; grandsons John and David Duggan; as well as by her son Richard, his wife Debbie, and their daughters Kate and Julie Duggan. Jean's husband of over 60 years, Dan predeceased her in 2002, as did her much-loved daughter Joan, who died of cancer in 2006.

Jean's family wishes to thank the medical team at St. John's Hospital, and her personal doctor, Graham Waring, for their wonderful care, and especially wish to express their deep gratitude to Arturo and Esther Sandoval for their excellent care, love and support for Jean.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean's name to Sisters of the Social Service, (818) 285-3355, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino, CA 91436.