DOROTHY MAY DUFF (PURDEY)

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DOROTHY MAY DUFF (nee PURDEY) February 25, 1915 - October 2, 2007 On Tuesday, October 2, 2007, Dorothy (Dolly) Duff passed away, after a brief illness at Golden Links Lodge in Winnipeg at the age of 92. Remaining to cherish Dolly's memory are her brother Charles Purdey, Maple Ridge, BC, sister Minnie Chase, Moosomin, SK, brother Richard Purdey (Grace), Winnipeg, MB; brother Donald Purdey (Roberta), Winnipeg, MB and sister Grace Lessard, Winnipeg, MB; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father Walter Purdey in 1947 and mother Mary Purdey in 1975, brother George Purdey in 1944, sister Hilda Hurd in 1997, her husband Fred Johnson in 1968 and her husband Robert Duff in 1980. Dolly was born in Harrow, Surrey, England, the third child in a family of seven born in England. She came to Canada with the family in April, 1925 to reside on a small farm West of the Town of Wapella, SK. Her youngest sister Grace was born here. From the time she was three years old in England, Dolly was declared to be legally blind with cataracts in both eyes so life was very difficult for her. With much help from her teacher and her siblings she managed to complete her grade eight in Canada, an accomplishment for which she was justly proud. She then went out to work for several different farm families with elderly parents who needed constant care. Sometime in the 1950's she went to Regina where the Doctors performed a surgical procedure on her eyes which gave her basic sight for the first time in her life. She was reborn. In 1960, she met and married Fred Johnson and lived in Whitewood, SK until his death in 1968. In 1972 she met and married Robert Duff and moved to take up residence in Winnipeg, MB until his death in 1980. In 1982 she moved into a very cozy suite in Richmond Gardens at 2900 Pembina Hwy., where she enjoyed life until ill health forced her to move into a nursing home in January 2005. Her main joys were housekeeping, gardening, cooking and baking. In her latter years at Richmond Gardens she enjoyed making meals for lonely, single old men with a bit of fussing thrown in for good measure. Cremation has taken place and interment will take place at a later date with a private family ceremony. Friends who so wish may make a memorial donation to a charity of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 12, 2007