Connie Rae Carpenter-Duff

1948 - 2021

Connie Rae Carpenter-Duff

WINONA - Connie Rae Carpenter-Duff, 73 of Winona passed away at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital on Monday, August 16, 2021 following a short battle with Covid and a three year battle with multiple myeloma. Connie was born to Ray and Alice (Harris) Carpenter on April 23, 1948. Her childhood was spent in Pickwick where she loved to roam the wooded hillsides and rolling pastures with her sidekick, Mary Lu (Nagle) Frey and where she and her Dad spent many happy hours together target practicing with rifles. In 1967 she married her high school sweetheart, Joe Duff. They were married for 49 years and lived in Homer until his passing in 2016.

Connie had many interests. She had a great love and respect for nature. She adored cats and horses. She was an avid reader and had a passion for the history of The Old West and Native Americans and also studied her family genealogy. Scrapbooking and interior design were her creative outlets. Connie and Joe cruised in their classic convertible on the lookout for antique treasures and new restaurants to visit. They also enjoyed traveling, especially to visit Maja, Connie's Swiss pen pal of 58 years. She had a great love of her friends and a wonderful sense of humor. One thing she did not enjoy was cooking and she missed Joe who was the family chef. Her friends often teased about her lack of cooking ability.

Connie worked at various office positions during her career, retiring from the Winona County License Center in 2010. She later worked at Target until 2018. She was a former Clerk for Homer Township and an Election Judge. She was a member of the Pickwick Mill, Winona Volunteer Services Food Shelf and the La Crosse Warming Center were dear to her heart and she spent time volunteering there until her illness. Connie was generous and enjoyed helping those in need.

Survived by her son Robert (Hanny) Duff; sister, Donnis Buchan; step grandchildren in Costa Rica; several nieces and nephews and many friends; and by Colleen McComb, who Joe and Connie "adopted" as a granddaughter. Colleen called Connie the "coolest Granny ever". Connie is also survived by special friend and casino buddy, Greg Duffy. Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, her parents, sister and brother-in-law, Darlene (Ken) Benter, brother Bruce Carpenter, brother-in-law Don Buchan, niece Beki Blank, and great nephew Blake Eckert.

Per her wishes, a private service will take place. Cards may be mailed to Hoff Celebration of Life Center, c/o Connie Duff Family, 3480 Service Drive, Goodview, MN 55987. Memorials are preferred to the Pickwick Cemetery or the Pickwick Mill. Please share a memory of Connie, sign her online guestbook and view her video tribute when it comes available at www.hofffuneral.com.