Ralph E. Duffell

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Ralph Duffell Obituary

Name: Visitation for Ralph E. Duffell
Start: 2022-10-14T17:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-10-14T21:00:00.000Z
Location: Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home

Published by Legacy Remembers from Oct. 12 to Oct. 13, 2022.

Owner of "Make It Fudge", known for his kindness Ralph E. Duffell, 83, of Freehold passed away on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at HMH Southern Ocean Medical Center, Stafford Township. He was born and raised in Chicago. Along with his wife, Barbara they raised their family in Chicago before moving to Maplewood. In 2013, Ralph settled in Freehold. Ralph had a 50 year long career in the printing business. In Chicago, he was a mentor/leader for the Junior Achievement where his group made fudge as their business. Fudge making became a family tradition and they had the store "Make It Fudge" in Maplewood. Ralph was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4504 in Union. He was active with the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts in Chicago and then in Essex County. After moving to Freehold, he joined the Freehold and Manalapan Senior Centers where he immediately volunteered to help the other seniors with computer skills/issues and set up computer centers. He also volunteered at the concession stand for the Freehold Revolution football games. Ralph was known for his kindness, constant willingness to help and guide others, and never saying "no". Ralph treated everybody like family, loved to host card parties and having his kids' friends around the house. In keeping Ralph's memory alive, at the family's request next time you hear a song by Queen, think of him and remember the good times. Ralph was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Dorothy Duffell; wife, Barbara Duffell; great granddaughter, Harper Tampier; and sister, Kitti Meshenberg. He is survived by his six children, Theresa Wavra of New Gretna, Anne Burdett and her husband, Richard of Scotch Plains, Mary Blood and her husband, Donald of Manahawkin, William Duffell and his wife Carla of Avon, IN, Richard Duffell and his fianc, Andrea DiGiovanni of Hackettstown and PatriciaTomazic and her husband, Jonathan of Freehold; fifteen grandchildren, Bill, Amanda, Donny, Timmy, Michelle, Bryan, Darian, Bailey, Andy, Courtney, Ryan, Damian, Nathan, Kristen and Kevin; three great grandchildren, Beaudin, Noah and Rowan; and two sisters, Gale Michael and Mike Mabry. Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route524), Freehold Township on Friday, October 14, 2022, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 9:00 AM Funeral Service on Saturday October 15, 2022, at the funeral home with his burial to follow at Graceland Memorial Park, 1900 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Ralph may be made to Freehold First Aid Squad, 18 Spring Street, Freehold For information, directions or to leave condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com 1…2…3 GUT! Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home 100 Elton Adelphia Road Freehold Township, NJ 07728 732-462-1536

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Mike Meshenberg

October 14, 2022

It´s hard to believe I first met Ralph in 1966, some 56 years ago, most likely across a crowded Duffell family dinner table. Living in Chicago the first few years, our family´s lives were interconnected and we saw one another a lot. I remember raucous birthday and other parties, poker nights in which we played a lot of card games, maybe even some poker, and sharing many of life´s events. I remember dancing - even together! - and some of our children´s weddings and sharing joys at the births of our grandchildren. We saw one another more rarely in the many years after his family moved east, but made it a point to get together here or there when we could. I enjoyed receiving care packages of fudge when it was the family business and, more recently, looked forward to his annual holiday gifts of cheese or the like.

Ralph was a good, caring, kind man who always put others first, particularly his family. He was, simply stated, someone you could rely on to be there when needed, to do the right thing. He struggled a bit after Barb died but eventually found his new footing, teaching himself computer skills and then teaching others, particularly other seniors.

Years and distance did not diminish our affection for one another, not just as a brother-in-law but as friends. I´m going to miss him as I know so many will.