M. Paula Duffy, of Duxbury and St. Petersburg, Fla. died Monday, Nov. 8 surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Duffy was born on the island of Santa Maria, Azores Portugal and graduated from nursing school in Ponta Delgada, San Miguel, Azores. Upon her immigration to the U.S., she worked as a nurse at Cambridge City Hospital. She also became a geriatric case worker and later a geriatric housing specialist for the city of Cambridge. She was the coordinator for the largest public - private (MIT) relocation of over 3,200 seniors from substandard housing into modern facilities in Cambridge.
Mrs. Duffy was also the assistant administrator of the Park North Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, founder and president of Transitions Unlimited, Syosset N.Y., owner/broker of Horan-Duffy Realty Syosset, N.Y., founder of the online company The Hat Connection, and the non-profit Giving at Home, Inc.  Giving at Home, Inc. was one of the nation’s first online charities devoted to helping less fortunate people throughout the U.S.
Mrs. Duffy was the chairperson for the Duffy Family Foundation, Inc. several community organizations, and served as president for the Syosset Village Association, president of the Nassau East Kiwanis Club and numerous non-profit organizations including UNICEF, Harvest House, March of Dimes, and most recently the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  She enjoyed gardening, painting, and crafts.
She leaves her husband of 39 years, John A. (Jack) Duffy; her sons, John A. Duffy Jr. of Duxbury,  Matthew P. Duffy of New York City, N.Y.; her daughter, Maria G. Duffy of New York City, N.Y.; her mother Maria H. Rodrigues of Duxbury; her grandchildren Colin P. Duffy and John A. Duffy III of Duxbury; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was held at Holy Family Church on Saturday, Nov. 13.  Mrs. Duffy is buried in  Mayflower Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers,  a donation may be made in her memory to the Young Women with Breast Cancer Program. Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Attn: Martha Ruest, 44 Binney St. Boston, MA 02115, dana-farber.org.