James Patrick Duffy

James “Jim” Patrick Duffy passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2013 after a long and valiant fight with recurrent lymphoma. He was born August 4, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to James Joseph and Kathryn Nolan Duffy. Jim spent his early years in Hartford and Bloomfield, Connecticut. In 1952 his family moved to Houston, Texas.

Jim graduated from St. Thomas High School and the University of St. Thomas, Houston and earned a Master’s Degree in Economics from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio.

He and his wife, Joanne, met while both students at UST and married following her graduation. In 1962, Jim began his 32 year career with Allstate Insurance Company. Several of Jim’s promotions within the company resulted in family moves: from Houston to San Antonio, Beaumont, Dallas and then to Libertyville, Illinois, when Jim became a member of Allstate Corporate Security, based in the company home office in Northbrook, Illinois. In 1995, he retired from Allstate as Territorial Manager, Corporate Security, and he and Joanne moved to Austin in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Jim was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Always an active supporter of his children’s activities, he served in various capacities of adult leadership for their Little League, Indian Guides, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Junior Achievement and various parent/school and parent/team groups. He loved attending his children’s and then his grandchildren’s activities and was their number one fan and cheerleader. He was proud of each of their accomplishments.

During his retirement years Jim and Joanne were able to travel, especially in their pursuit of their shared hobby of family genealogy. Jim also took great pleasure in woodworking; creating Christmas decorations for his children, and special gifts for each of his grandchildren.

Jim valued giving back to his community. A man of integrity and great faith, he worked diligently taking part in both parish ministries and civic projects from Texas to Illinois and back again. He spent untold hours volunteering for charities. As a Knight of Columbus in Council 8156, as well as a 4th Degree Knight in Assembly 1099; he was honored to hold offices in both groups.

Jim was preceded in death by infant daughters, Josephine Anne and Christine Louise; his parents, James Joseph and Kathryn Nolan Duffy; and his father and mother-in-law, Lawrence William and Anna Mae Bernauer Flusche.

Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joanne; his son, Michael Thomas and wife, Julie; his daughter, Annette Louise and husband, Gerard Tafallo; and his son, James (Jim) Lawrence and wife, Mary; and his three grandchildren, Jessica, Patrick and Megan; his sister, Anne Duffy Weber and husband, Ronald; his sister-in-law, Mariana Flusche Simeroth and husband, Joe Perry; his aunt, Alice Duffy; and ten nieces and nephews and many cousins.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 12, 2013 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, with recitation of the Holy Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 13, 2013 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 4800 Convict Hill Road with Reverend Patrick Coakley, MSC, Celebrant. Rite of Committal will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Decatur, Texas with Reverend Thomas D’Souza, SAC, Parochial Administrator with Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Decatur, Texas.

The family is very grateful to the wonderful doctors and staff of Texas Oncology, the caring nursing staff of 7 North at Seton Main and the compassionate nurses and staff of West Oaks RHC for their care and support throughout Jim’s illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Jim to St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church’s Grateful and Growing in His Spirit Campaign or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.