[Oe List ...] Notice of Ann Duffy's death and funeral service Friday 24 Nov

Mon Nov 20 13:09:41 PST 2023

My-Oh-My - Celebrating the Blue-Shirt marathon…

David Rebstock, Sandra Rafos, Anne Duffy, Frank Knutson, Elaine Tellford – all jogging across the finish line in one month…

Not that I’m trying to catch up, but the pull toward the great beyond seems to have my name on it too. Remembering their engagement drives me to a place of deep gratitude for these awesome colleagues and friends (Thank you, Joan). I am thankful for their families, for their lives, and for the life changing impact of their work on the countless number of people whom they encountered along the way. We are shielded from the knowledge of how many lives were changed by the Mystery through our work together, but we do share the experience of being part of an evolving movement of care – with enduring ripples across the years. 

Happy Thanksgiving all y’all 😊! 

Praying for Peace, Sherwood

From: OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> On Behalf Of Joan via OE
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2023 2:40 PM
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: Joan <jfknutson at aol.com>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Notice of Ann Duffy's death and funeral service Friday 24 Nov

I don't know if this is true for everyone but in the early days of my Order experience, we were told "We are colleagues.  We are not friends."  Well, I am here to confess to you all, I have friends and I don't know who I would be without them.  David Rebstock and Sandra Rafos were friends and I miss them already.  Frank Knutson and I were many things to each other over many years and he taught me how to forgive.  I am always grateful when Jim waxes eloquent as he did for us here because I can feel deeply his words.

Journey on.

Joan Knutson

On Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 06:34:00 AM MST, James Wiegel via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> > wrote: 

I love the line, "despite their conventional appearance" as we say farewell to Ann.  I can remember looking over at Ann and Rob and feeling reassured that "all this" was not just a crazy dream . . .

Back in the day, I recall an article, I think in TIME magazine, called something like "There Are Saints Among Us". -- there may have been a little card, "The Saint"-- book mark sized -- a listing of qualities . . . Little did I know, right there only a few feet away . . . Ann, Sandy, Elaine . . . And the list goes on -- and not just solitary individuals with an aura of holiness, but Ann and Rob, Sandy and Bob, Elaine and John -- the list goes on -- being a presence in the midst of everything -- taking on responsibilities, molding family and children, washing dishes . . . Those memories would be enough and then also listen to those intervening years and how their care went on and on . . .  Not characters from a book, people I / we have known, stood beside, sat beside, talked with, 

Makes me want to sing . . .

Jim Wiegel

“We are all time travelers journeying into the future. But let us make that future a place we want to visit. “       Stephen Hawking

On Nov 18, 2023, at 9:11 PM, RichardandMariaMaguire via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> > wrote:

Dear Colleagues,

Family, friends and all of us in ICA Australia would like to let you know of the death of Ann Stuart Duffy (nee Dunlop) on 9th November 2023, shortly after her 90th birthday, in Sanctuary Point (South Coast NSW).

Born on 26 October 1933 in the Sydney suburb of Cronulla by the ocean, Ann was an active member of her local church and as she grew, looked for new ways to put her beliefs into action. As Ann ventured into challenges posed by a post-war world, she was joined by Rob who shared her conviction. In 1956 they were married and together, despite their conventional appearance, continued to look for meaningful ways to act as people of faith in their local congregations.

A dynamic team in work and in life, Ann and Rob listened to the Spirit and dared to heed God’s call upon their lives. They sought to be a living demonstration of non-judgemental love and, in 1970, joined the ICA with a mission to meaningfully share life’s abundant possibility with people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and circumstances, particularly the poor and marginalised, in Australia and overseas. 

Ann embraced the opportunities the ICA offered and undertook many roles across the globe; from community engagement in Vogar Canada at Lake Manitoba to Nam Wai in Hongkong to leading planning workshops (LENS) across Asia to development circuits along the east coast of America to “permeation” assignment in Sydney.

Ann’s commitment to a life of faith also saw her face many deep challenges; these included the inner conflict between being an active part in the ICA’s global mission for human development and her need to nurture her four children while living in intentional community.

Rob’s death in 2016, after almost 60 years of marriage, was also a time of deep struggle and her own deteriorating health followed. Despite this, Ann's faith shone through and she was cared for by her children Paul, Linda and David, daughter-in-law Brenda as well as by her four grandsons. They all looked after her at home until the very end.

With many people here and around the world, we give thanks for Ann’s amazing completed life of awakening and service on behalf of all and for our common future. 

Her memorial service will take place at the St George’s Basin Uniting Church, 7 Meriton Street on Friday 24th November 2023 at 11:00am followed by a committal at the Shoalhaven Crematorium in Worrigee, on Worrigee Road at 1:00pm. The committal will be live-streamed here <https://murphyfamilyfunerals.com.au/tribute/details/1572/Ann-Duffy-nee-Dunlop/obituary.html#tribute-start> . 

For more information, including a photo of Ann and lifetream access see the website of Murphy Family Funerals:  <https://murphyfamilyfunerals.com.au>  https://murphyfamilyfunerals.com.au/tribute/details/1572/Ann-Duffy-nee-Dunlop/obituary.html#tribute-start, where you will also find the live-stream.

Donations can be made for Bush Heritage Australia.

With admiration and gratitude,

David Duffy and Maria Maguire

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