Grace H. Duffey October 30, 1928 - January 6, 2021

Grace H. Duffey, 92, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, in her daughter’s home in Allentown, PA, with her daughter by her side.

Grace was born on October 30, 1928, in Columbus, Ohio. She was the 7th of 8 children of Edward and Julia (Riffle) Feeney and grew up in a joyful and loving Irish Catholic family. She spent her teen years working at the roller rink where she was an amazing skate dancer. She graduated from Rosary High School in Columbus, Ohio and became an executive assistant for the Chamber of Commerce. Later, after years of volunteer work, she helped put her kids through college, when she became a successful realtor for Kelly-Wood Realty in Pittsburgh.

She married Donn W. Duffey in July 1952 and together they had three children. They moved to Defiance, Ohio, then to Dayton, Ohio, and eventually to Pittsburgh, PA where Grace became an avid Steeler, Pirate, and Penguins fan! She loved shopping in the city and her kids knew that she was always good for a piece of fudge from the Kaufmann’s Dept Store mezzanine, before they headed home. She has been the honorary “mascot” of her daughter, Jill’s company, Senior Moves by Design, where she was a valued client and happily modeled over the years for website and marketing photos. She and her daughter were also avid travelers and enjoyed river cruising in Europe and the States. Jill’s Facebook posts always drew many more “Likes” when Grace was in the photo!

Over the years, Grace spent many years in service as President of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Professional Engineer’s Society, was on the Parish Council of St. Scholastica’s Church in Aspinwall, PA, was a member of Cathedral Church in Venice, FL, and later helped to plant a new church, Our Lady of Mt Carmel, in Sarasota, FL. She was a member of St. Thomas More Church in Allentown, while she lived at Country Meadows of Allentown. She and her husband were also active members of the Southbay Yacht Club in Osprey, FL and the Sarasota Yacht Club.

Grace is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Julia; her brothers, Leo, Patrick and Art; sisters, Mary Margaret, Rita, Ann, and Therese.  She is survived by her children, Mark W Duffey, Jill (Duffey) Kearney, and Kevin (Noreen) Duffey; Grandchildren, Dr. Katie Duffey (Anthony) Coleangelo, Emily Duffey, Elizabeth Duffey, Lindsay Kearney, Laurel Kearney, Erin Duffey, Brenden Duffey, Samantha Duffey (Chris) Surface, and Sean (Sarah) Duffey; and by her only great-grandchild and love of her life, William Duffey Colangelo.

Due to the COVID restrictions, the family will have a private service. Arrangements by Stephens Funeral Home, Inc., www.stephensfuneral.com. Interment will follow at a later date, when Grace’s ashes will be buried next to her loving husband’s in National Cemetery, Sarasota, FL.

Grace was particularly touched by the number of families who are facing food insecurities, today. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Grace’s name to Second Harvest Food Bank or a charity of your choice.