Anne Duffy was woman of great goodness
ANNE Duffy bade farewell to this world on Thursday the 17th of August in her 92nd year having lived a life which was filled with love, adventure, fortitude, and a desire to instil her innate goodness in her family and all those with whom she befriended and encountered throughout her life.
She was a lady who experienced the vicissitudes of life from a young age and met every challenge with a determination which belied the serenity & loveliness she portrayed.
Her life’s path started out in Castlerea on the 7th of May 1926 where she was born into the Cooke family of five brothers and two sisters.
As was the case in those days, times were tough and emigration was the route taken by most young people in those hard times. The Cooke family were no exception and their talents were nurtured and developed in may parts of the world.
Anne herself would move away from home before she returned to Ireland after WW2 and in 1952 married Edward Duffy.
Following their marriage they spent a good deal of time in Kildare where they ran successful businesses before Drogheda was the beneficiary of their decision to move to the town and take up the running of a hostelry business in West Street where the family resided and became well known.
Anne settled down in her adopted town and became part of the community over the years and was admired and loved by everybody with whom she befriended throughout the last fifty years.
She had a particular affinity with West Street and in recent years the commercial demise of the street saddened her greatly. Her passing has been referred to as the “end of an era” as her family ran the last business to “live over the shop” on the street with her son Eamon and his family continuing to run The Weavers.
Notwithstanding this, she also managed to retain the link with her wonderful friends from her youth such as the Colls, Burkes, Cunniffes and of course, all the branches of the Cooke family.
She was a woman of adventure having trekked the Amazon Jungle, Safari-ed Africa, brazened the Bazaars of the Indian continent, shopped in New York, partied in New Orleans, climbed the ‘Great Wall’, Wailed at the Wall and railed against Trump’s wall!
Her popularity was obvious, with the marvellous turnout at the reposing in the beautiful surrounds of Kilsharvan House, the home of her son Gavin and his wife Orlaith.
The Funeral Mass and the acknowledgement of comfort the Duffy family received from Drogheda’s business and sporting community bore testimony to the family’s respect in these organisations and activities..
Her eldest son, Padraig, delivered a powerful, evocative and heart rending tribute to his mother on behalf of the family.
In a dignified and poignant oration (rarely referring to notes), it was sincere and encapsulated the wonderful human attributes which his mother exuded during a long and fulfilling life.
It was laced with humour, which made the congregation laugh; solemnity, which showed the serious side of her life and lastly, love; which she showed in abundance for her sons and their families, her grandchildren and lastly, her great grandchildren.
He referred to the tender love and care provided by the staff in ‘Oldbridge House’ at Moorehall Nursing Home and the numerous friends who had provided comfort to his mother and the family during the last few difficult months of her life. On behalf of the family he thanked them for their kindness.
The celebration of her life was indeed rendered in a beautiful Service by Fr Declan Kelly with music provided by Timmy Regan and James McCreanor, which was in keeping with her exquisite classical music taste.
There was a special musical piece in the service when her grandson, Cathal Duffy, played one of his own compositions, “Unforgotten” which he had composed and dedicated to his grandmother some time ago.
Anne Duffy is survived by her sons, Padraig, Eamon and Gavin, daughters in law, Mairead, Alma and Orlaith, brother, Desmond Cooke, her beloved niece, Marion, sister in law, Peggy, her most loved grandchildren and great grandchildren, her many relations and friends.
“The Hereafter Will Be Enriched With Her Presence”