Duffy, Irene Jeannette

Irene was born in La Crosse, Wis, to Edmund A. Anderson and Ruth (Becker) Anderson on Dec. 31, 1922. She lived in Texas for a short time before returning home to LaCrosse, where she met and married Delmar Duffy on Sept. 8, 1944. They returned to Long Beach, Calif., where he was stationed in the Army. After the birth of their first child, they returned to LaCrosse. They were blessed with six more children before moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1962. Here, they made their final home and were blessed with one last child. Irene worked at Mercy Medical Center and later at Rockwell-Collins.

After the passing of her husband in May 1985, Irene spent winters in Tampa volunteering at hospitals, bowling with friends, and playing cards and bingo. Here she met her second love, Sherman Bunn, and they spent years together traveling to many places like Australia, Turkey, Brazil and Germany, until his passing in June 2010.

Irene continued to bowl well into her 80s and provided 27 years of volunteer service to the hospitals. Irene led a full and adventurous life. She enjoyed singing and was active in church choirs. Irene spent summers in Iowa and Illinois where she enjoyed the company of her family.

She will be deeply missed by those whose lives she touched.

“The children of Irene Duffy would like to thank the ICU staff at Memorial Hospital of Tampa. Your compassion and care for our mother was outstanding. You cried with us and held us up as we helped her to go home. May God Bless You All.”

Please leave a message or tribute to Irene's family on the Web page www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.

Published Nov. 15, 2013 in The Gazette