Kathleen Duffy

Kathleen Flaherty Duffy, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away suddenly May 24, 2008 in Austin Texas. She was born in Detroit, Michigan June 21, 1926. Preceded in death by husband Frank Duffy, parents Stephen and Helen Flaherty, brothers John and Gerald and sister Margaret Dyszewski. Survived by daughters Mary Kay Duffy and partner Pam Dullum, of Glendale, AZ, Peggy and husband Bruce Thurin of Austin, TX, sons Stephen and wife Karen of Stow, OH, Michael and wife Mary of Austin, TX, Daniel and wife Patricia of West Chester, OH, and Timothy and wife Marie of Houston, TX, as well as fourteen grandchildren, Megan, Erin and Kristen; Lisa, Matthew and Timothy; Brian, Brandon and Kathleen; Kyle, Molly and Anna; and Sean and Patrick. She is also survived by her brother Patrick and his wife Geri of Ann Arbor, MI, and sisters Marie Baddeley of Detroit, Rita and husband Doug Fry of Livonia, MI and Sr. Elizabeth of Adrian, MI. There are many nieces and nephews who will carry her memory. She came from of a family of eight children, all members of the greatest generation. She was a very strong woman who grew up through the Great Depression and WWII, survived rheumatic fever as a teen and raised six teenagers through the 60's and 70's. While raising her children Kay lived in Redford Township, MI, Coraopolis, PA, Reynoldsburg, OH, Tallmadge, OH, Hatboro, PA, and Houston, TX. She traveled to Brazil, Ireland, and Alaska. The greatest accomplishment of her life was her children and she was fiercely proud that they had all graduated college. She and her husband passed on their love of reading to their family. Her greatest joy in life was her grandchildren. In her later years, she found great pleasure in her weekly trips to mass and then dinner at Culvers, consisting of a hot fudge sundae, with her youngest grandchild, Tim, an autistic child with whom she had a very special bond. She was vibrant until the end and leaves behind many friends at the Ashwood Assisted Living Residence in Austin, TX and in St. Helen's Parish and Country Place Community in Pearland, TX. Visitation Thursday, May 29, 6:30pm to 9:00 pm at O’Brien/Sullivan Funeral Home 41555 Grand River, Novi, MI 248-348-1800. Scripture Service at 7:00pm Instate Friday, May 30, Holy Family Parish 24505 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, MI 10:00 am until time of Funeral mass at 10:30 am. Because she was a breast cancer survivor the family requests that in lieu of flowers, a contribution be made in her name to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 5005 LBJ Fwy., Ste. 250 Dallas, TX 75244 .