Elizabeth Collins Duggin of Mon Luis Island, AL, passed on March 29, 2018 at the age of 97. Mrs. Duggin was a resident of Somerby Senior Living in Mobile at the time of her death. Very proud and fiercely independent, Mrs. Duggin always put others’ needs before her own. She had a strong moral compass and accepted no excuse for not doing the right thing. Mrs. Duggin’s devotion to her faith and her community were recognized by Archbishop Rodi in 2011 when she received the Christ the King Medal of Honor. Passionate about travel (especially her trip to the Vatican where she saw Pope John Paul II), music, good food, and ballroom dancing, Mrs. Duggin loved nothing more than sharing her passions with her family and friends. She simply loved life and her enthusiasm was a joy to all who knew her.
Mrs. Duggin was a lifelong member of Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church and also attended Mass at Our Savior Catholic Church when she moved to Somerby Senior Living. A member of the first graduating class of Most Pure Heart of Mary High School in 1943, she completed her formal education at Spaulding Business School. Mrs. Duggin worked for Saint Rose of Lima Parish as Secretary and Housekeeper for 55 years. She taught at Saint Rose of Lima Elementary School, Mon Luis Island from 1953 through 1955. She also worked for Providence Hospital where she retired. Mrs. Duggin was a member of Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Fifty Plus Club and Club 31 on Mon Luis Island.
She is survived by her son, Andre (Diane) Duggin, Malvern, PA; her three daughters, Diana (Tommy) Thompson, Mon Luis Island, AL, E. Yvonne Duggin Sales, Fayetteville, GA and Thelma Duggin, McLean, VA; six loving grandchildren, Tiffany Duggin (Jason) Hines, Valerie Thompson, Julian (Heather) Duggin, Adrienne Thompson, Andre Sales and Michael Sales; four adorable great-grandchildren, Laiah Hines, Juliana Duggin, Van Hines and Hailey Duggin, two nephews, Ronald (Cassandra) Wallace and Alvin (JoAnne) Wallace and her very best friends, Paul Martin, John Amos and Claude Doublet. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Collins and Josephine Durette Collins, and her only sister Veronica Collins Wallace and her brother-in-law John Wallace and a cousin who was like a brother Master Sargent Walter Emerson Durette.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Somerby Senior Living, especially Tracy and Leah and all of the staff in the Assisted Living unit. She often said how blessed she was to have Somerby and to be able to lead a full, exciting life there. A special thank you to Kathy Hawk from Optum Health of United Health Group who “always had her back”, Touching Hearts Senior Care, and their home health aides Maurita Yelder, Stacey Smith and Flo Hansberry who treated her like family and to Marie Collins, Patricia Crawford, Leslie White and Leroy and Helen Collins her devoted neighbors.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 2, 2018 at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Mon Luis Island, AL. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will be at Saint Rose of Lima Cemetery followed by a repast at the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be offered to the Mon Luis School House Renovation Project, 12470 Old Cedarpoint Rd., Coden, AL 36523. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.