Edla Isabelle Kendall Duncan

The only child of Anson Herbert Kendall MD and Marion Agnes McDonald Kendall, she lived in Massachusetts and New Hampshire until the death of both of her parents when she was only 11 years old. She attended boarding school at Academy of the Holy Cross in Washington, D.C. before moving to Arlington, VA to live with her paternal aunts.

At age 15, she met her future husband, Edward Caton Duncan, Jr. at a Columbia Squires dance where she proclaimed "It was love at first sight”!

They both graduated 3 years apart from Washington & Lee High School in Arlington, VA.

While Ed was serving in the US Navy, Edla enrolled on scholarship at Garfield Memorial School of Nursing, Washington, D.C. There she graduated with a nursing degree in 1956 and, like her mother before her, became a registered nurse.

Edla and Edward were married November 22, 1956, at St. Charles Catholic Church, Arlington, VA.

The couple, known as "The Two Eddies" to close friends and family, started their own family the following year and moved to South Florida in 1966.

Edla had many passions in her life.

She had a lifelong endearment to lighthouses. Ed and Eddie took guided tours of most lighthouses in New England and the Great Lakes. She visited nearly every lighthouse in Florida, including the Florida Keys. Agendas were revised to seek out lighthouse tours wherever she traveled - including the Northwest, Canada, Ireland, and Scotland. Until recent years, whenever there was an opportunity to climb to the top SHE DID! Their home was filled with collectible lighthouse books, photos, and memorabilia from their travels. Edla was an active member of the American Lighthouse Foundation for many years.

Appreciation for the beautiful carved cabinetry and sound of antique music boxes began in 1975, when they purchased their first 6-foot upright Regina model that plays 20 3/4 in. discs. Their private collection is over 100 years old and is especially enjoyed at Christmastime with the playing of traditional holiday songs.

Growing up near the Red Sox ballpark, Edla attended many games at Fenway Park. She was always proud to say she had the opportunity to meet Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams. She was also a big fan of the Boston Celtics, especially during the Larry Bird years.

The amount of sports knowledge and statistics she and Ed exchanged was nothing short of amazing!

Edla always believed the pen can be a gentle nudge or a mighty sword to remind others to do the right thing. In 1968, the Goodyear Blimp Mayflower was stationed in Miami and offered a one-day opportunity to ride for free. Knowing that her 5-year-old son, Ed, was fascinated with the Blimp, Edla took him to the venue. After waiting their turn for hours in the hot Florida sun, they were told there would be no more rides that day.

In response, Edla eloquently wrote the President of Goodyear to tell him what had happened and how difficult it was for a 5-year-old to understand. Well, the company president wrote her back. He not only apologized for what had occurred, but also arranged for an exclusive Blimp charter for our entire family - a trip we all still remember.

This is but one of the many stories over the years about her "Power of the Pen".

Knitting many sweaters, scarves, and vests for family brought her great joy. For many years, she knitted beanie caps for premature babies at local

hospitals. She shared her talents for cross-stitch and crewel embroidery as well as latch hook rugs and braided rugs. As a skilled seamstress, Edla made many clothes for herself and her children in their younger years.

Edla was a talented cook, baker and master chocolatier. When her children were growing up, the dinner table often had a few more neighborhood kids to fill up on her famous recipes. These included "From scratch" pizza, spaghetti, fresh caught seafood, and fried chicken. Servings were bountiful, and she always offering "just another spoonful". The recipe for her legendary Sinful Chocolate Cake remains a highly guarded secret!

Often using antique chocolate molds from her vast collection, Edla was an accomplished chocolatier who made homemade candy for 30+ years. This was a special gift to friends and family. One year, over 1500 pieces were made in a variety of flavors, shapes and sizes. This was a treasured annual event shared with daughter Suzanne.

Edla was our family's 'SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS'!

In Coral Gables, she organized our annual Christmas Eve Party for family and neighbors. She did all the planning and catering while her children provided the music and entertainment.

For decades, all Christmas cards were made by hand and included a handmade ornament, many of which are still in use over 50 years later.

The Christmas stockings that Edla knitted with love are prized as a lasting legacy. Between her children, their spouses, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and other loved ones throughout the years, there are well over 50 still being used and cherished. Each year at Christmastime, people will think of her as they put up their stockings.

However, her greatest vocation and legacy is measured as a loving wife and devoted mother of four sons and three daughters. Generously giving of her time, energy and talents she performed a multitude of roles in support of many of her children's activities, sporting events, debates, operas, school plays, choir practices, performances and more. Among those roles she was best known for were as a Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout Leader, babysitter for Red Cross swimming instructors, seamstress for cheerleading uniforms, "Snow Cone Lady" for school, Altar Boy Coordinator, dependable field trip chaperone, and Bake Sale Queen. She was a constant figure at track and cross country meets, fundraisers and school events. By carpooling to and from events, it gave her opportunities to share in the excitement of her children and their friends.

Edla was preceded in death by daughter, Suzanne Irene Duncan and son, James Kendall Duncan, who both died in infancy.

She is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 63 years, Edward Caton Duncan, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL, her children Christopher Edward (Tammy) of Valrico, FL; Stephen Michael (Rhonda) of Moyock, NC; Suzanne Kendall Duncan Granfield (Stewart) of Jensen Beach, FL; Edward Caton III (Cheryl) of Ft Myers, FL; Katherine MacDonald Duncan Dennison (Tim) of St Johns, FL; first cousin Herbert Kendall Tillema (Sue) of Columbia, MO; grandchildren Colleen, Allison, Christina, Samantha, Alexandra, Matthew, Ryan, James, Matthew, Robert, Casson, Joseph, Emma, John Paul, and Olivia as well as 5 great-grandchildren.

All are asked to please join us! There will be an opportunity at the reception to share with everyone any pearls of wisdom, story or anecdote about Edla aka Mrs. Duncan, Mom and Grandma. We highly encourage and welcome this. If you would rather not speak, one of us can read to the group anything you would like said. This is a sharing and celebration of a life well and fully lived!