Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

TENANTS HARBOR - Michael B. Duffy, 75, died peacefully at home on Thursday morning, October 3, 2013, surrounded by his family, including his wife, Mary Joan (McDonald) Duffy, with whom he recently celebrated 45 years of marriage.
Mike, as he was called, was born in County Monaghan, Ireland on August 11, 1938. He was the 10th of 11 children born to Michael and Ellen McCabe Duffy. He grew up on a small dairy farm and attended the local Derrygooney School. On August 8, 1956, just days before his 18th birthday, Michael arrived in New York. He settled in the Washington, DC area where he had a career as a master steamfitter and was a member of the Steamfitters Local 602. For most of his career, he was employed by Boland Services of Rockville, MD and retired in 2002.
In addition to his wife, Joan, Michael is survived by one daughter, Kathleen (Dennis) of Silver Spring, MD, and three sons, Michael (Jessica), of Rockland, ME, Brian, (Susanne) of Perry, ME and Matthew, (Terri) of Silver Spring, MD. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Sean McSkeane, Gavin McSkeane, Siobhan Duffy, Roy Duffy and T. Way Duffy.
Before retiring to Tenants Harbor, Mike was very active in the Irish-American Community in Washington, DC. He served two terms as President of the Irish American Club and was one of the original organizers of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Rosensteel Council and a long time parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church, both in Silver Spring. He also worked as a precinct chairman for the Democratic Party over the years. In his spare time, he enjoyed attending the athletic events of his children and refurbishing old houses as investments.
After spending many, many summer vacations with Joan’s family in Tenants Harbor and Martinsville, he and Joan built a home in Tenants Harbor. Since retiring and moving to Maine fulltime, Michael enjoyed many hobbies such as woodworking and boating. He was also involved in civic activities at the local transfer station and the Knox County Democrats. He was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church and the local Knights of Columbus.
Over the years he enjoyed traveling, especially to Ireland, to visit brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. He is survived by sisters Brigid Kenner of GA, Mary Ellen Conlon, Annie Moore, Kathleen Heaney and Rita Conalty of Ireland, and brothers, Vincent Duffy of Yorktown Heights, NY and Patrick Duffy of Ireland.
Michael was predeceased by three older brothers, Hugh, John and Frank. He is survived by many brothers and sisters-in-law, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, October 6th at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 150 Broadway. The Reverend Richard Malo will officiate. Interment will follow at St. James Cemetery, Thomaston.
Those who wish may make memorial donations to St. Bernard’s Soup Kitchen, 7 Union Street, Camden, ME 04843; or St. George Firefighters and Ambulance Assn., P. O. Box 249, Tenants Harbor, ME 04860.
To share a memory or condolence with Mr. Duffy’s family, please visit his Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

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