Barbara Gladys Duffy

Obituary for Barbara G. Duffy (Gable)

March 23, 2026

Barbara G. Duffy passed away peacefully at Maranatha in Brooklyn Center, MN on March 23, 2026 at the age of 93 with her family gathered around. The family is holding a private service followed by burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Since surviving a serious bout of pneumonia last July and "graduating" hospice, we had several bonus months to share many memories and hear stories never heard before sprinkled with the occasional foray into current events. We were very fortunate that she kept her personality, wit and sharpness of mind up until the end.

While our mom had many friends in her lifetime, and enjoyed many adventures and experiences in life, nothing was more important to her than family. Being with her children, grandchildren, and later great grandchildren, brought her the most happiness, just as she brought happiness to all of us.

Barbara was born to Benjamin E. Gable and Anita (Schulberg) Gable in Minneapolis on October 20, 1932. She grew up an only child with loving parents and relatives. They raised a fun loving and courageous daughter who was willing to put herself out there and try things. After graduating high school Barbara became a member of the nationally renown Aqua Follies water ballet group performing locally at Wirth Lake and across the country in Seattle Washington. Not long after her two-year stint with the Aqua Follies she met her husband-to-be, Raymond Duffy, while on a train ride to Chicago with her friends to attend a Minnesota Gopher football game. We don't know if the Gophers were winners that day, but Ray and Barbara were. They were married for 49 years before Raymond's passing in 2003.

Barbara was very much the creative type. Over the years she put her talents to good use with knitting, sewing, painting and decorating. Several of her completed works are still in the family today. She was also compassionate. While her children were in school, she used her "free" time to volunteer at Trevilla of Robbinsdale, as an aid and companion to severely disabled adults.

After the children were grown and gone Barbara put her sewing and design skills back to use by starting a home business creating, designing and sewing bridal veils. She and Ray would travel around Minnesota and the surrounding area calling on privately owned bridal shops and taking orders for her creations.

She hated bragging so was reluctant to say publicly how very proud she was of her children and grandchildren, but she never failed to let us know. As much as she enjoyed time with her children later in life, many of her most enjoyable times (and theirs too) were with her

adult grandchildren. From road trips to theme parties to special outings (some of which might be inappropriate to put here), they kept her young and she kept them laughing.

While laying in bed for weeks at Methodist hospital fighting off pneumonia like no 92-year-old should be able to, she was convinced she was meant to stay around a little longer to meet her two new great grandchildren on the way. We are all so grateful for that bonus time with mom and the 93 years that preceded it.

She is survived by son David and daughter-in-law Phoebe, their children Matthew (children Max and Sam), Patrick (wife Chandra and children Dylan and Arlo) and Alyssa Weispfennig (husband Scott and children Lyla and Emery).

Son Thomas and daughter-in-law Barb, their children Colleen, Erin Stephens (husband Kenneth and children Lillian and Cody), and Kathleen Boortz (husband Jimmy and children Jack and Ada).

Daughter Maureen Reichelt and son-in-law Fred, their children Fred, Nicole Brandner (husband Andrew and children Savannah and Nora).

Daughter Sharon Duffy and son-in-law Rainer Schulz, Sharon's children Emily Langland-Knox (husband Christian and daughter Louisa) and Claire Langland-Johnson (husband Ben and son Daniel).