Barbara McCarthy Duffy

Barbara McCarthy Duffy, 85, of Valparaiso, Florida, passed away on July 9, 2023 after a long, happy life.

Barbara was born on December 2, 1937 to William McCarthy and Mary Johnston in Astoria, Queens, New York. After Barbara graduated from Bishop England High School in Charleston, South Carolina, she went to work for AT&T as a telephone switchboard operator.

She met her husband, Jeremiah (Jerry) Duffy, at the beach on Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina. Barbara and Jerry went on to have four children, Kelly (Jim) McClymer of Maine, Karen (Rosemary) Duffy-Greslo, of Washington, Karla (Frank) Simei of Maryland, and Kecia Duffy of California.

After being a homemaker for fifteen years, Barbara went to work for DuPont as a relocation specialist, retiring in 1995 to move south to Florida to live near her twin sister, Kathleen McCarthy Toner.

In retirement, Barbara spent her time on Boggy Bayou, was active in her church, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Niceville, as well as volunteering with her twin sister Kay at Visionaires of Northwest Florida. Barbara enjoyed traveling both domestically and internationally, especially on cruises with family.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her twin sister Kathleen (John) McCarthy Toner, her siblings Florence (Clarence) McCarthy Thomas, William (Chris) McCarthy, Donald (Marion) McCarthy, Bruce (Connie) McCarthy, her brother-in-laws John J. (Marcia) Duffy, and Monsignor Thomas R. Duffy. She is survived by three sisters-in-law, Connie (Bruce) McCarthy, Ann (William) Duffy Mitchum, and Patty (Fred) Duffy DiBiase; her four daughters; eight grandchildren: Kristen McClymer Seatavakin, A.J. McClymer, Tom Simei, Brendan McClymer, Chris Simei, Phil Simei, and Kate Duffy-Greslo; and eight great-grandchildren, Zen Edith, Caleb Seatavakin, Mia Seatavakin, Xan McClymer, Brayden Simei, Siena Simei, Lila Simei, and Ollie Simei.

Lucky to be part of a big, loving, extended family, Barbara mothered her daughters, grandmothered the next generation, and "aunted" so many others. None of her 29 beloved nieces and nephews can say they haven't been touched by her love and generosity, especially the children of her twin sister Kay, Meagan (Duane) Geci of Valparaiso, Bridget (Eric) Hunke of Valparaiso, and Sean (Alana) Toner of California.

She will have a burial service to join her late husband and twin sister in Charleston in the Fall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your local blood bank.

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