Duff, Viola M., 86, February 10, 2014. Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
HOULTON – Viola Marie (Cassidy) Duff, 86 years of age, died on February 10, 2014. She was born in Hodgdon, Maine on August 27, 1927, the daughter of Henry F. and Lucy G. (Colton) Cassidy.
Voila attended St. Mary’s Catholic Parochial School and graduated from Houlton High School in 1945. She attended classes at Ricker Classical College, that of which launched a 27-year teaching career beginning with a one room school house in Union 117, New Limerick Maine, as well as, many years at her alma mater St. Mary’s Parochial Catholic School and later for the Houlton School District.
Throughout her life, Viola participated, along with her mother Lucy, in the Houlton Council of Catholic Women, served on the PTA for St. Mary’s, served on the Aroostook County Democratic Committee, and volunteered her time and energy to her community. Upon retiring from teaching, she became the Activity Coordinator for the geriatric community at Madigan Estates.
Viola married the love of her life, Arnold, on November 26, 1947 at St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church. They spent 52 years together, creating marvelous memories and adding to their wonderful family of eight children. Together they laid a very careful loving foundation. This foundation however, was not made up of bricks and/or mortar, but made up of bottomless pit of love, a profound reverence for God, a great deal of patience, an intense sense of humility, honesty, and deep abiding moral values. She believed the very purpose of life was to increase the warm heart, to think of family first, and most importantly to serve others with a genuine sincerity without ever cheating.
Viola was a sister, a friend, a teacher, a wife, and most importantly, a mother. She was fervent in her passionate love of her family. And when her children were around, she would light up any room with a glow of a Mother’s love. In her mind and heart, her cup runneth over with the love of a good man coupled with her finest achieve-ment, her eight children. She made every day an adventure filled with life, love, and laughter. She was the kind of mother that any child would be proud to call “Mom”.
Viola is survived by one brother, Murray Cassidy of Grindstone, Maine; six of her eight children, son, Joseph A. Duff and wife, Brenda, of Houlton, Susan (Suzie) A. Duff of Searsport, Maine, Mary A. Duff, Molly A. Duff, Polly A. Duff-Hebert and husband, Todd, and Julie (Jules) A. Duff all of Houlton; grandchildren, Heather Guimond and her husband, David, Kristen Young and her husband, Steven, Kimberly Kennedy and husband, Jamie, Sarah E. Duff, Patrick Arnold, Helen Marie, and Lucy Ann Duff-Hebert; great-grandchildren, Nathan Guimond, Abigail and Sydney Young. She was predeceased by her husband, Arnold; her parents; her brothers, Phillip, Patrick and Joseph Cassidy; her sisters, Madeline Ward and Helen Marie Cassidy; as well as two children, Lucy A. Duff and Michael A. Duff.
Friends called 6-8 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2014 at Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton Maine. There was a private Holy Rosary for family only. A mass of Christian burial was celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2014, at St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church, Houlton, with Rev. David Raymond celebrant. Reception of Celebration immediately followed the service at St. Anthony’s Hall, Houlton. Donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Research Foundation, The Faith Formation Program at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Cary Library and/or a charity of one’s choice, care of Dunn’s Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton, Maine 04730. Online condolences and guest book: dunnfuneral .com.
