Gene Glenwood Duffy

Thornton -- Gene Duffy, a longtime resident of Thornton, NH peacefully passed away on Monday, November 7,2022 with his sister and brother-in-law and two close friends at his side throughout the day and night before he passed. Gene was born on January 11,1942 to Glenwood Ham Duffy and Bertha Albertina Emery Duffy (Tina). They spent that winter living in a small home in Glen, NH just yards down the road from where Mama's brother, Homer Emery and his family would live. Mama called that home the coldest house she ever lived in, "We were never warm there." A few years later, Glen would take his family back to Thornton where he had grown up. Five years after Gene was born, his sister came to visit and then three more brothers arrived. Gene went to elementary school in one-room school houses in Thornton, NH; Grades 1-4 at Schoolhouse #5 in West Thornton and Grades 5-8 at Thornton Center School. For high school, he traveled to Lincoln, NH. After graduating from high school, Gene immediately went to work in the Lincoln Paper Mill. By then his father had lost both of his legs, and his mother was his father's 24-7 nurse. Gene gave most of every paycheck to Mama to feed the rest of us. Not many would have been that generous. When the paper mill closed, the workers had to find new professions. Gene moved on to construction of new houses often working and sharing his tools with his brother, Ernie. They worked for CMB and Luther Haartz, who was especially appreciative of Gene's meticulous work. Later, Gene was self-employed completing precise finish carpentry as he created kitchen countertops. His brother, Dicky, has one of those countertops in his kitchen. In his later years, Gene created a firewood business selling cord and bundled wood to customers. Gene was an avid outdoors man. He treasured his hunting trips to camp in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The other men at camp especially treasured the food he brought with him; some cooked by Mama, some by him. He also loved the card playing that took place on these visits; he was one competitive person. Gene loved deer hunting, which again also fed the family, He enjoyed fishing whether it was summer or winter. Many spring times, Gene and his father went smelting bringing home buckets of the small fish. After they were cleaned, they were so delicious dipped in cornmeal and flour and fried in a cast iron pan. What great memories! After his first stroke about five years ago, Gene had to move from the family home in Thornton to Burton Commons in North Woodstock. It was in this apartment building in North Woodstock, that Gene gained a wonderful new group of friends. He returned to his love of cooking, blessing his neighbors with fresh-baked loaves of bread, cookies, or apple pies. He loved beating his sister and other friends at weekly Cribbage games or traveling in his truck to Mirror Lake or Beaver Pond and just quietly watching the water. Such peaceful settings. Gene truly was a quiet man who enjoyed the simpler joys of life. Already, he is missed so much. Gene was predeceased by his youngest brother, Danny, and his mom and dad. He is survived by his sister, Barbara and her husband, Morris Patterson; his brother, Richard and his wife, Hilda Duffy; his brother, Ernie and his wife, Debbie Duffy; nieces and nephews, most especially, Julie Patterson. Julie and her Uncle Gene were always trading small gifts throughout the year as they looked after each other. He spent his last two days at home wrapped in a gray and white fleece blanket Julie had given him. A most special relationship. Services: A Memorial Service for Gene will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 6:00 PM at Mayhew's Funeral Home in Plymouth, NH. Reverend Dean Roth will lead this service. Please do not send flowers. Please do, if you are able, send a small contribution to the Lincoln Woodstock Food Pantry, PO Box 39, Lincoln, NH 03251. These generous, kind people are making such a difference in our area. Many thanks go out to them.

Tributes

Gene Glenwood Duffy

January 11, 1942 - November 7, 2022