Mary Ellen Duerr

6/30/1947 - 2/7/2025

Palm City, Fla. - Mary Ellen Duerr (née McCarthy), 77, passed away peacefully Feb. 7, 2025, in Palm City, Fla., after a long and graceful battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was surrounded in her final moments by her beloved husband, Sean, and their children, Seamus, Kevin, and Katie. Born June 30, 1947, in Norwich, Mary Ellen was raised in a loving Irish Catholic family as one of nine children. She was preceded in death by her cherished parents, James and Mary McCarthy; as well as her infant sister, Anne; and her brother, Shay. From an early age, she

exhibited a deep sense of compassion and kindness to others-qualities that would define her throughout her life.

Mary Ellen earned her degree from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, and pursued a career as a special education teacher. She dedicated herself to teaching while supporting Sean through medical school. As their family grew, she embraced motherhood wholeheartedly, raising their three children with unwavering love and devotion.

A woman of deep faith, Mary Ellen remained steadfast in her Catholic beliefs throughout her life. She was a childhood parishioner of St. Mary Star of the Sea in New London, later worshipping at St. Lawrence Parish in Shelton, while raising her family. In her later years, she was a parishioner of Holy Redeemer in Palm City, Florida.

Mary Ellen found joy in many pursuits. She played tennis before becoming an avid golfer and loved traveling with family and friends. She also worked for many years at Sean's surgical practice, assisting with bookkeeping and insurance. Her kindness and selflessness were evident to all who knew her, and her ever-present smile could brighten any room.

Mary Ellen is survived by Sean, her devoted husband of 54 years; their children, Seamus Duerr (Summer), Kevin Duerr (Jen) and Kate Kelly (Dan). Meme had ten adored grandchildren: Megan, Ellie, Riley, Aedan, Finn, Liam, Bridget, Maeve, Tess and Fiona. A special thanks to Mary Ellen's sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kathleen and John Soukup for their unceasing support; and thanks to her sisters, Catherine and Noreen; and her brothers, Patrick, Terry and Joe, for their support.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. April 29, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Notre Dame, Ind. Following the Mass, a committal will take place at 11 a.m. at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the campus of Notre Dame. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Ellen's name to the Alzheimer's Association or the Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. Mary Ellen's legacy of joy, faith, and her infectious smile will live on through those who were blessed to know her. May she rest in eternal peace.