Jacolyn B. Duffy

Duffy, Jacolyn B., 90, died November 11, 2025 in Western North Carolina. She was the loving wife of the late James P. Duffy, Sr. At the time of his death in 2011, they had celebrated 56 years of marriage.

Born in Pawtucket, RI, Jacolyn was the daughter of the late John and Dorothy Bidwell, sister of Dorothea Horton, of North Carolina and the late Carolyn Tankard, of Florida. Mother of Donna Duffy, of Cranston, Barbara Sellechio (John) of Cranston, Kathleen Ponte (Richard) of North Carolina, Elizabeth Owenby (Randy) of North Carolina, Jacolyn Eatough (Leon) of New York, and James P. Duffy Jr. of Warwick. She was blessed with a plethora of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a great great grandchild. She also had two godchildren, Episcopal Bishop Jeffrey Mello of Connecticut and Susan Fernandes of Cumberland.

In her early years she was a member of the Rainbow Girls and a competitive swimmer. After graduation, she worked at Hospital Trust Bank in downtown Providence where she met her lifelong boyfriend. Mom drove us everywhere in a Ford station wagon, garnering the nickname Mario Andretti. She was still driving in this, her 90th year. A devoted wife and mother, she was cherished by all who knew her. Through the years, Mom had close neighborhood friends in Rhode Island, Florida, and North Carolina. She thoroughly enjoyed sharing family news of the achievements and escapades of her clan. As an avid Red Sox fan, she could talk your ears off sharing her knowledge and criticism of the team’s efforts. She was excellent at sewing our clothes, ties for Dad, and many outfits for our dolls. Her claim to fame is the hundreds of personalized knitted Christmas stockings that are in homes around the world at Christmastime. Raise your hand if you have a stocking and blow her a kiss. Thank you for acknowledging our Mom/Jacolyn/Aunt Jackie/Jackie/Dad’s girlfriend/Nana.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday, November 18, 10:00 am at Saint Paul Church, 1 Warwick Avenue, Cranston. Burial will be held at R.I. Veterans Cemetery, Exeter, R.I. Calling hours and flowers are respectfully omitted. Donations may be made in her honor to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or the American Cancer Society 

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