Michael Vernon Duffy
Michael Duffy, born in 1933 in Verdun, Que.,
died at home on April 19, 2006 after many years of fighting the
good fight against heart and kidney failure.
He was the son of the late Florence-Marie Champagne and Arnold
Nelson Duffy. He is survived and will be sorely missed by his
dear sister Jean, brothers Jim and Pat of St. Thomas, Ont., and
numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers:
Bob, Bill, and Jack. His adopted family with whom he shared his
life for over thirty years, Zsolt and Angela Sumegi, their children,
Ildiko, Matthew, Livia, and grandson named after Michael, cannot
express how much his presence will be missed in their lives. He
will also be sadly missed by their extended family in Winchester,
great-great grandmamma Rose, and Celi and Leslie Myers.
"Duff" as he was known to many residents of Winchester
as well as to hundreds of Carleton University students where he
ran the food services program for years, will be remembered as
a warm, friendly guy who had a smile and a joke and a word of
advice for everyone he met (and an extra sandwich for hungry students
during his Carleton years).
His dearest wish was to continue to help others for as long as
possible, so according to his instructions, his body was bequeathed
to the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine.
There will be no formal wake, but the University monument commemorating
those who have given their bodies to the advancement of medical
education and research can be seen in the Memorial Garden of Pinecrest
Cemetery. The annual non-denominational memorial service will
take place this year on Tues., June 7 at 2 pm at Pinecrest Cemetery
and Crematorium, 2500 Baseline Road in Ottawa.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Winchester District Memorial
Hospital, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, or any animal
shelter agency. Duff loved nature and all animals, especially
his dog, Heidi, who also misses him very much.
Today it rains like yesterday.
And I'm glad,
I prefer it that way.
I want the solemn skies to cry
Until every cloud is dry,
And every waking eye mourns the sun.
But today it rains like yesterday
Not because I wish it that way
No, not because of tears or prayers,
Not because of empty shoes and chairs.
No, today it rains like yesterday
Because the flowers need to grow,
It's nature's way.
Livia Sumegi