Remembering Duff: Beautiful inside and out! She will be missed!

Duff with her mom (Grams) 1966

Dad (Scott) and Duff (with cousins?)

At the age of six, Duff was christened  on the ship she was named after, the Port Dauphine! Captain Archie Hodge, Duff's godfather, is next to Duff in the photo with the ship's bell in between them. Water from Lake Superior was placed in the bell for her christening!

Duff sitting on her brother's (Scott's) lap, 1971

Duff, so cute!

Duff with Shanter

Duff, January 1974

Duff at her brother, Scott's, wedding, September 1976

Duff posing for photos (Look at that '70s get-up!)

Duff 1982

Duff with her mom (Grams) and Koona (Duff's dog, who I grew up with!)

Loads of laughs with the McNally Clan: Gerri (Grams) and her three kids -Doug, Duff and Scott!

Duff and me, 1985 (Couldn't have asked for a better Aunt! I absolutely loved spending time with Duff!!!) This was taken at a family gathering at Grams' house with Great Granddad Hall, his wife, Christine and Larry, Duff, Mark and me.

Duff posing with her mother and brothers at her wedding, 1986. (I was only 10 years old, but I remember being very excited  and having so much fun!)

Duff spending family-time at Uncle Walters! (I loved our family visits at his house, playing shuffle board in the basement and listening to his goofy jokes!)

Duff with her first baby boy, Justin, in front of her house! (I was stoked to have a little cousin who was 12 years younger than me - the same number of years between Duff and me!)

Duff and Justin

Duff out in the yard with Justin, helping him with his new Jeep!

The LeGallais Family: Duff, Mark, Justin and Dezi!

Duff and me snowmobiling together!

Mark, Duff and Dezi (By this point, I had moved away from Thunder Bay, and was sad about it, for many reasons, but one of the big ones was that I couldn't regularly take part in Justin and Dezi's childhood as they grew up. However, for a number of years I was able to visit Thunder Bay 3 times a year, during which I'd often stay at Duff and Mark's, play with the kids, and, of course, go and watch their hockey games!)

The McNally Family Reunion in Whitehorse, Yukon! So wonderful to have so many of us together, and in the Yukon to boot!

Duff with her mother and brothers on Dalton Trail, in Hillcrest, Whitehorse, Yukon

Duff in the basement at her house, where many a crib games were played!

Duff outside with her horse

Mark and Duff in their kitchen

I cannot listen to a Nylons song or a Boston song without thinking of Duff. She took me to my first live concert – The Nylons! But usually we would simply listen to her stereo and dance around her living room or in her basement... which makes me realize...

I can't see someone dance the “knobby-kneed dance” without thinking of Duff. I'm not sure if anyone knows what I'm talking about. If I could, I'd demonstrate for you.  (Knobby-kneed Dance interlude!)

I can't eat lasagna or double-cheese, double-pepperoni pizza without thinking of Duff. In the past, when Mark would go fishing or hunting for the weekend, Duff would invite me over for a girls' night and we'd stay up late and eat double-cheese, double-pepperoni pizza for dinner, and then again for breakfast in the morning! Talk about making a little girl feel special!

Anytime I see a Corvette, I'm reminded of Duff. Duff was the cool, fun aunt! Whenever I played car racing arcade or video games that allowed for a choice of vehicle, I always tried to find a blue Corvette so that I'd be racing my aunt's car!

And I can't play a game of crib without thinking of Duff. The number of games we played together, or laughs we had while playing, could never be counted.

You see, it's not special events, or fancy outings, or expensive vacations that I remember. It's those regular visits, mini-traditions and road trips to Laclu together that have become my nostalgic moments. These memories are what allow Duff to always be a part of me. Duff did not need philosophical conversation or wise-cracking jokes to impress me. It was the fact that she could make me feel so utterly comfortable and that she was always there for me from my terrible twos to my difficult teenage years. When I could talk to no one else, it was Duff who I turned to, and she did exactly what most teenagers need. She listened; she hugged; and then later, she sought out the answers I was looking for. There are many intellectuals out there who have not figured out this simple wisdom. But Duff knew.

However, usually when we were together, it was not serious or somber or sad. Mostly, when we were together, we laughed – about nothing and everything!

I have to say, I am so very fortunate to have had such a close bond with such a beautiful human being, both inside and out, while growing up. I simply wish I could have done for her as much as she did for me.

I will always cherish my memories of Duff, and hope that you too have many to carry along with you!