Obituary: Jean M. Duffy, 92, Of Greenwich

Via Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home

Jean (McHugh) Duffy, 92, a lifelong Greenwich resident, died Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at home.

She was born on January 10, 1930, at Greenwich Hospital, to Owen McHugh (Co. Monaghan, Ireland) and Bridget (Waide) McHugh (Co. Carlow, Ireland). Jean was educated at St. Mary’s Elementary School and Greenwich High School (Class of 1947).

She was married to Hugh P. Duffy on November 8, 1952, until his death in 1991. They lived in Cos Cob with their six children. The family enjoyed YaYa’s Sunday dinners and good times with the Crothers, McHughs, Gavins and Murthas. The Duffys were parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Riverside.

“Regulars” at events held by the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Jean and Hugh danced together on weekends and marched in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade down Greenwich Avenue. Before and after Hugh retired from the Greenwich Water Company in 1985, they traveled in the U.S., Canada, England and Ireland. To celebrate her 70th birthday, Jean went to Ireland with her children in the summer of 2000, touring the country and visiting relatives on the Waide and Duffy sides of the family.

Jean had a career in banking, retiring from the Putnam Trust Company as a trust officer in 1995. Her social life was very active: Friday night dinners at the Knights of Columbus, bridge games, school reunions, Bible study groups, and trips with the Glenville Seniors. In election years, she worked at the polls. She gave her time weekly for decades at St. Catherine’s and Greenwich Hospital until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought her volunteerism to an abrupt end. In December 2017, Greenwich Hospital presented her with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a national honor given to those completing 4,000 hours or more of volunteer service over the course of their lifetime.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her son, James H. Duffy; sister and brother-in-law, Celine and Edward Crothers; brother, Edward McHugh; niece, Jean Crothers Welles; sisters-in-law, Merty (Eugene) Callaghan and Bridie Duffy; and sons-in-law, Al Morris and Brian Rehrig.

She is survived by her children: Mary Duffy Morris, Sheila Duffy Rehrig, Michael (Maureen) Duffy, Celine (John) Mulderrig and Patrick Duffy; seven grandchildren: Gavin, Matthew and Jenna, Meghan and Erin, Keira and Cian; four great-grandchildren: Emmett, Elise, Nina and Róisín; sister-in-law, Marjorie McHugh; and her nephews, nieces and their families.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, November 11th, 2022 from 4 PM to 7 PM at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home located at 31 Arch St. Greenwich, CT 06830. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, November 12th, 2022 at 9:30 AM at St. Catherine of Siena Church located at 4 Riverside Ave, Riverside, CT 06878. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery located at 399 North Street, Greenwich, CT 06830. For additional information, please visit leopgallaghergreenwich.com.

The Duffy family is deeply grateful to Merry Go Round, the senior independent living community also known as The Mews, where Jean moved from her Putnam Hill apartment November 8, 2021. After living alone for 30 years, she found good company among the residents, great food and kind attention from the staff. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Merry Go Round, Inc., ½ Bolling Place, Greenwich, CT 06830, or go to www.themewsgreenwich.org.