Loretta Catherine Duffy

Loretta Catherine Connor was born on November 23, 1918 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania to proud Irish parents Joseph and Marguerite (Kelly) Connor. Loretta and her twin brother, Joseph were both born premature. She was small enough to sleep in a shoe box and at that time medical advances were not what they are today, and her twin brother sadly passed away not long after due to complications of pneumonia. Loretta was the second eldest of four sisters.

She attended Carbondale High School and graduated in 1936. After High School she decided to attend Mercy Hospital Nursing School in Scranton, Pennsylvania and graduated with her RN in January of 1941.

Not long after graduating from nursing school she married longtime friend of the family, Joseph A. Duffy. Joseph’s mother and Loretta’s mother were good friends and they shared a long time history. Joseph and Loretta married on May 18, 1942; shortly after they were married Joseph was drafted into the Army serving in Pearl Harbor during WWII.

Loretta supported herself while Joseph was at war by taking jobs with General Electric and Elizabeth General Hospital in New Jersey. She relocated there to be close to work. Joseph and Loretta’s first daughter Kathleen was born not long after. Loretta decided it would be best to move back to Carbondale to be close with family and friends who could help her care for the kids while Joseph was at war. Daughter Margaret followed not long after that.

When Joseph returned from the service he took a job in New Jersey working for General Motors, and they moved to Roselle Park, New Jersey in 1947. Loretta raised her family and lived in that house making many memories. She knew how to cook her traditional Irish meals like corned beef and cabbage, pot roast on Sundays and of course Irish soda bread. Her family remembers that each Sunday in the evening Loretta and Joseph would have others over to card games and socialize. The family spent one month a year at a cabin in Newton Lake, PA where many fond memories were made. Sadly, in 1971 Joseph passed away. Loretta decided that a fresh start would be desirable, and she moved to Beaverton, Oregon in 1972 with daughter Margaret to join Kathleen who was already living in Oregon.

It was a transition for Loretta to move from the hustle and bustle of the east coast to the more relaxed atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest. However, she soon adjusted and found herself enjoying the beauty of Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach.

While living in Beaverton, Loretta took a job as an RN at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon working on the 9th floor in oncology. It was Loretta’s nurturing ways and a demand for excellence that made her a wonderful nurse. She was the type of nurse a patient would hope to have because she was incredibly attentive and caring. She worked at St. Vincent’s for 10 years until she was forced to retire due to issues with losing her vision.

Although, her vision did become an issue, it did not stop Loretta. She was only 4’10 1/2 inches in height but her tenacity and spit fire personality was what her family remembers best about her. She was incredibly opinionated and “ruled the roost” but she did have a soft side, spoiling her grandchildren and spending time with family meant the most. She traveled to Russia, Ireland, Cannon Beach and went camping with her family. Loretta loved to read mystery novels receiving books on tape as her eye sight weakened. She always had the news going at her home and it was not uncommon to be drawn into a debate, and Loretta usually won any argument. She was sharp as a tack with an outstanding memory, often times sharing her wisdom with her family and friends. It was not uncommon to hear one of her many phrases such as, “Before you leave the house make sure to use the bathroom” or “Behave yourself if you know how”.

After years of various health issues Loretta passed away on July 25, 2014 at Providence St. Vincent Hospital on the 9th floor that she worked on for so many years, surrounded by the love and support of her family.

Loretta will be remembered most for her nurturing and attentive care of her family and friends.

A public visitation will take place on Sunday, August 3, 2014 from 2-4 PM at Pegg, Paxson and Springer Funeral Chapel.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held Monday, August 4, 2014 at 10:30 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, which was Loretta’s home Parish since 1972.

She will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 11 AM.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph, parents Joseph and Marguerite, brother Joseph and sisters Mary Eleanor Caviston, Dorothy Ann Eltz, and Anna Grace Moyle.

She is survived by her daughters Margaret Duffy and Kathleen Hudson; grandchildren Robert Hudson, Brian Lavallee, Thomas Lavallee, Christine (Lavallee) Reed, Michael Hudson, Laura Hudson; 10 great grandchildren and many extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made in Loretta’s name to Talking Book and Braille Services at the Oregon State Library 250 Winter Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301.