Kathleen V. (Kay) Duffy was born at home in Malden, Massachusetts on October 4,1926 to Philip and Mildred (O'Hara) McGonagle. She was raised in Medford by her aunts and great aunts after the death of her Mother when Kay was just nine years old. It is during this time she was trained in dance and performance arts at a studio owned by her aunt, Kathleen V. O'Hara. At her first performance, at age two, she played the part of Little Miss Muffet. She loved performing so much she refused to leave the stage and had to be escorted off. Kay grew up traveling with the studio's dance troupe, performing at many venues and events.

Kay attended Medford Public Schools and graduated from Medford High School at the age of sixteen. She got her teaching degree from Lowell Teachers' College and went to work as a first grade teacher in the Revere Public Schools. Her first class was made up of 52 children! She worked in the Revere schools for 43 years until her retirement in 1990. Throughout her high school days, and continuing through her lifetime, she remained very close with her "Club" friends including Norma, Ginny, Winnie, Ruth, Jane, and the late Georgine Russell.

Kay met her husband, the late John F. Duffy, at a talent show rehearsal. They married on August 19,1961 in York, Maine. York Beach was a special place for Kay, as well as the rest of the family. Summers were spent in York at the family estate "The Boulders", a large, beautiful home overlooking the ocean. The couple resided first in Malden, then Melrose, Reading, and finally in Stoneham. She loved dogs, especially dachshunds and poodles, and her home was filled with many pets over the years, always adopted in pairs. Kay loved to travel visiting such places as Bermuda, St. Thomas, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Vienna, and more. Though she never had children of her own, Kay was Aunt to many children in the McGonagle and Duffy families. It was always a fun time when visiting her in York or spending the day at the black bottomed pool in Reading. Some of the best memories are of Aunt Kay pulling up to the house in her shiny convertible with the roof down, her perfectly coiffed hair secured by a kerchief tied under her chin, beeping loudly for us all to go somewhere on an adventure.

Kay was part of several organizations over the years. She was very active in the Catholic Daughters, serving as Regent of the Catholic Daughters of America for two years. She was also Reading Women's Club President for two years and Massachusetts State Federation Education Chair Parliamentarian for ten years, four years as President. She loved to be of service to others and was always among the first to step up and volunteer.

Blessings were many for Kay. She was part of a large, loving family of McGonagles and Duffys. She was predeceased by her sister Phyllis McGonagle, brother Raymond, and brother Philip McGonagle and his wife Mary McGonagle. She was sister-in-law of the late Dr. Paul Duffy and his wife Edna, and William "Bing" and Ellie Duffy. She was Aunt to many nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. She was also the Godmother to Janice Piasecki, Kathleen Spencer, and Marybeth Duffy. Kay was also blessed with good health. She experienced her very first visit to the hospital just eleven days before her death at age 98. She was able to live on her own, in her own home, right up to the end with support from her family, especially her nephew-in-law, who she lovingly called "My Boyfriend", and friends, Louise and Mary Ann. She passed away with family at her side on December 29, 2024. To quote her own words, which were written at the request of her caring physician to learn more about her life, "Thank you to all my family and friends. I never would have made it without all of you. Time marches on." She then cites a line from a song writing "I'll take you home again, Kathleen". And now she is Home, in the loving hands of God, with the Mother she couldn't wait to finally see again and our family of angels who were waiting for her at Heaven's gates. Rest easy "Our Lovely Aunt Kay"..

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the James M. McGonagle Memorial Fund, Brookline Bank, 430 High Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155.

Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Friday, January 10, 2025, from 10:00AM-11:00AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church, 4 Herbert St., Melrose at 11:30AM. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment to follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.