Biography

We are gathered here -- whenever and wherever you are reading this -- to celebrate the life of our dear aunt, sister in-law, cousin, and friend, Maureen Duggan. Maureen Patricia Duggan of Catskill died on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, NY. Maureen was born on July 5, 1952. She was 68 years old. 

Maureen was the daughter of the late William F. Martin and Matilda (Quinn) Martin, descendents of Irish and German immigrants. Born and raised in Queens, Maureen attended Our Lady of the Snows parish school in Floral Park. As a child growing up on 265th street, with her older siblings Catherine and William, she forged lifelong friendships among neighboring families, especially the Rocha, Martin, Gatti, and Herman families.

In high school at Bishop Riley, now known as St. Francis Prep, Maureen was quite musical, playing piano, snare drums and fife.  She loved performing in Stormy Knights Fife and Drum Corps of OLS  and spoke fondly of those experiences later in life, including her experience of marching in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. She even returned later to teach fife to a new generation of teens. 

Maureen graduated from high school in 1970 and immediately began her career at Allstate Insurance in the clerical department in June of that year. Starting in the Hollis office, she quickly made many friends, including her life-long best friend Renee Stacey (Verbitsky). When Maureen married Bob Duggan in 1973, Renee and Maureen’s dear friend and sister-in-law Catherine (“Kitten”) Martin, served as her bridesmaids.

Maureen went on to hold many roles at Allstate, including as a claims adjuster, and met many important people that would become lifelong friends (too many to list). These relationships remained strong, even after her retirement from Allstate in 2007.  Her friends at Allstate were not just people she saw at the office. She spent her weekends and evenings with these dear friends playing on the corporate bowling and softball teams, spending many weekends whitewater rafting, attending classic car shows, and visiting and building model train layouts. These were just some of the many shared hobbies of their Allstate family.

Maureen will be remembered as an avid lover of the Beatles (her favorite Beatle was George), a hardcore fan of the NY Yankees (her favorite player was Thurman Munson) and a classic car enthusiast (her favorite car was the one her father owned: a turquoise 1957 Chevy Bel Air with white rims). Maureen loved gardening, reading Irish murder mysteries, and learning about WW II history.  She loved being in nature and spending time with animals, especially dogs, and even more especially German Shepherd dogs. She also loved traveling, throughout the U.S. and abroad. She and her sister Catherine once joined her niece, Eileen, and her husband Bruce on a roots trip to Ireland where she got to meet second cousins she had never known before. She continued to correspond with these new relatives and exchange Christmas cards and photos.

Her family will fondly remember her amazing Thanksgiving stuffing, her fantastic meatball recipe, her ability to find the positive in any bad situation, and how she never forgot a birthday, a quality she shared with her sister, Catherine. Her favorite things to watch on TV were Beauty and the Beast (the series) and Days of our Lives, and any Christmas movie, any time of the year. She was tremendous fun to be with, and known for her infectious laugh and playful spirit..  

But most of all her family will remember her for her selflessness and how she would put others' needs before her own.  She was a “caretaker” by nature and her family felt this altruism in how she cared for her late Aunt Ruth and her late sister, Catherine.  Having no children of her own, she cared for her many nieces and nephews (Elieen, Patty, John, Theresa, William, Matthew, Michael, Keith, and Bryan) with grace and kindness only a mother could give. 

Later in life she moved to upstate NY, to the family’s property in the Catskills which she inherited from Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jack.  Her relationship with her aunt and uncle was such a special one that she had formed a rich bond with the Catskill property and was able to create a home for herself and her dog, King. The home she created there was more than a home, it was a haven and retreat enjoyed by many. Maureen even hosted the wedding of her niece Patty and her husband Jesse, creating a unique and beautiful wedding venue and a memorable event for their friends and family. Maureen loved welcoming family into her home, especially her grand-nieces and grand-nephews, who were like grandchildren to her (Sydney, Max, Jacob, Shane). The family spent many holidays together on the property creating fond memories that will be with them for their whole lives.

This tribute would not be complete without recognizing the many friends Maureen made after her move to upstate NY.  Eddie, Janice, and Rachel Miszczak, Julie and Craig Miedreich and Billy Payne were all very close dear friends whose support and kindness will long be remembered by Maureen’s family. They, along with other friends and neighbors, created a warm and welcome community for Maureen’s retirement years.   

We thank you all for sharing your memories of Maureen and helping us celebrate her life. The knowledge that she will live on in the hearts of all who knew her brings us comfort.