Patricia Ann (LaVelle) Duffy of Brooklyn Park, MN, formerly of Sioux City, IA, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2016. Pat was a loving wife, proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a dear friend to many. Patricia (or Patty as some remember her) was born on May 23, 1926 in Des Moines, Iowa to Vivian and Gertrude (Ivis) LaVelle. The family later moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa where she graduated from Sacred Heart Grade School and Sacred Heart High School. She attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, and then worked in Washington D.C. and Des Moines as a secretary.
She married James Michael Duffy on November 23, 1950 at Sacred Heart Church in Fort Dodge. They were married for 64 years. Patty and Jim moved to Sioux City where Jim established an Architectural/Structural Engineering Firm. Patty worked as her husband’s office manager and secretary while raising six children who all attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Bishop Heelan High School.
Patricia held many Officer positions for various civic organizations. Among them: Briar Cliff Alumni, St. Therese Study Club, Confraternity of Blessed Sacrament Parish, the Carmelite Guild, and Joan of Arc Circle. She was a member of the golf and tennis leagues at the Sioux City Country Club. She was also involved in many bridge clubs, civic and church organizations as wells as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Pat and Jim were active members of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church for over 40 years. They were special friends to the Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City. They were also on the original planning committee for the Queen of Peace Shrine in Sioux City and were instrumental in its development.
The couple moved to St. Therese @ Oxbow Lake, Brooklyn Park, MN in 2006. Many residents of St. Therese attribute their new-found friendships and active involvement to Pat Duffy’s organizational and social skills, making new residents feel welcome and involved in the community.
Patty is survived by her six children: John (Marcia) of Maple Grove, MN, Peggy (Kim) Lorenzen of Saratoga, WY, Michael (Brenda) of Gig Harbor, WA, Marianne (Tom) Petron of Minnetonka, MN, Patrick of St. Francis, MN and Dan (Eileen) of Minnetonka, MN; eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers: Casey (Connie) LaVelle of Falls Church, VA and Jim (Sheila) LaVelle of Gilmore City, IA and in-laws, Leo and Marilyn Duffy of Des Moines, IA, Carole Duffy of Port Hueneme, CA and Dick McSweeney of Hampton, IA.
The family is grateful to our special cousin, Sr. Susan Ivis, with her expert Nursing and Hospice experience, in providing some extra love and care for our Mom in her final days.
Patty was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Jim; her sister and brother-in-law, Terry and Bob Cranny; sister, Janet McSweeney, brother and sister-in-law, John and Helen LaVelle; brother, Edward LaVelle; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Droegemeuller and brother-in-law, Jack Duffy.
A funeral Mass will be held in the chapel at St. Therese at Oxbow Lake, Brooklyn Park, MN on Saturday, June 18th at 10 AM with visitation beginning at 9 AM.
There will also be a Mass of Christian Burial in Sioux City, IA on Monday, June 20th at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church at 10:30 AM with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM.
Memorials may be sent to St. Therese at Oxbow Lake, Brooklyn Park, MN or Queen of Peace and Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City, IA.