Priscilla Haley Duerk passed away on February 7, 2017 with her loved ones by her side. She was born on February 22, 1938 in Brookline MA to the late James and Luella Haley. She graduated from Brookline High School in 1955. Priscilla lived in multiple places during her lifetime including New York City, Stamford CT (where she lived the majority of her life), Crossville TN, and Buffalo, NY. Her firm belief in God supported her in her daily walk and ultimately gave her peace and comfort.
Priscilla had a love of life and each position she held she did with the utmost enthusiasm and zeal. Whether it was as a stewardess with American Airlines where she was the first stewardess in the company’s history to receive a citation for bravery, to greeting worldwide visitors at Xerox World Headquarters, to acting as characters from beloved children’s stories as the children’s department manager at Borders book store - she always jumped in with both feet solidly on the ground. Her love of all people was a common theme throughout her lifetime and culminated when she worked as a therapeutic recreational assistant at the Tandet Center (Stamford, CT) with Alzheimer’s patients for six years. She had always dreamed of living in Tennessee and she began a great adventure of moving there knowing no one and made many wonderful friends living there for ten years before returning east for her last remaining years.
Priscilla was predeceased by her Husband Frederick W. Duerk Jr. (a.k.a. Dirk Fredericks). She is survived by her children; Cheryll Duerk of Stamford, CT and Lynda D. Steuer of Buffalo, NY, her son-in-law Tom and grandchildren Mira and Daniel, two sisters; Virginia Robicheau of MA and Susan Fenton of FL as well as many close friends from around the country.
The family would like to thank all of you who were friends of our mom and grandmother and for the memories she cherished. Thank you for her happy times.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Mathew Kosbob Memorial Fund at Fairfield Community Foundation (383 Main Avenue Norwalk, CT 06851-1543 or a charity of one’s own choosing. A visitation for friends and family will be held Sunday, February 19th at 3 pm and service will follow beginning at 4pm at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral home located at 2900 Summer Street, Stamford, CT.
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