STELLARTON – John Leo Joseph Duffy, 75, Stellarton, passed away at 2:10 p.m., Tuesday, October 18, 2011, a beautiful sunny fall day, surrounded by his loving family in the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow and was carried in the arms of our Holy Mother Mary, guided by our Lord Jesus Christ to our Father in Heaven.
He was born in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on February 27, 1936, to the late Francis and Eloise (Gauthier) Duffy.
John, known also as "Honey" "Dad", “Papa”, "John"," Leo", "Duff", "Duffy", was a kind and gentle man, who would chat with anyone and was loved by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, Stellarton.
John served his country in the Canadian Armed Forces for thirty years beginning in Aldershot with tours in Germany, Norway and Cyprus and Base Gagetown. He received The Nobel Peace Prize Diploma for recognized service as a member of the UN Peacekeeping Forces who won the Prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo, on December 10, 1988. The Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association is the only Canadian Association authorized by the Nobel Committee to issue a replica of this prestigious document.
John was an avid sportsman. Hockey and golf were his passion and he never once gave up on the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was an outstanding hockey player and played with the Black Watch in the Valley League, Southern New Brunswick Hockey League, Gagetown Warriors, Gagetown All Star Team and Ancient Warriors. His name is on the Wall of Fame in Oromocto, N.B. While in Germany, the military hockey team of which he was a member, played against the Trail Smoke Eaters who had just won the World Hockey Championship.
He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 28, Stellarton, Black Watch (RHR) of Canada Association, Atlantic Branch and the Black Watch, Nova Scotia Branch.
Surviving are his wife, Brenda (Walton) with whom he shared 48 years of marital bliss; son, Kevin (Louise) Duffy, Fredericton, N.B.; daughter, Kimberley (Emery) Hache, Eastern Passage; cherished grandchildren, Stephanie, Matthew Duffy and Stewart Hache; sisters-in-law, Freda Boyd, Victoria Harbour, Ont.; Betty Lou (George “Buddy”) Thomas, Halifax; Vera (Robert) Unruh, Fort Erie, Ont.; Sharon Noel, Stellarton; Patsy Coady, Port Dover, Ont.; Jane (Gerald) Adams, Lincoln, N.B.; brother-in-law, Robert (Gail) Walton, White Rock, B.C.; cousins, Gloria and Gerald Turnbull; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and special friends.
Besides his parents, John was predeceased by an infant brother; brothers-in-law, Edward (Janie) Walton, Granville Walton, Jack Boyd, Allan Bonvie and Roger Noel; sisters-in-law, Marion (Robert) Hoare and Shirley Andrews.
The family will receive visitors 7-9 p.m. today and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home, New Glasgow. The Royal Canadian Legion Tribute Service will be held for Comrade Duffy at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church with Father Bill Rankin presiding. Interment will be in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery with luncheon to follow in Sister Catherine Steele Centre.
Family flowers only please. Donations may be made in John’s memory to St. Joseph’s Academy, Stellarton.
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