BIOGRAPHY

Duffy was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, on 9 May 1908, to parents Philip Schultz and Josephine Wilson. She had at least one sister, Dorothy Carey. In one of her interviews, she recalled her childhood experiences of peering through holes in a fence to observe mob scenes being filmed at Pathe Films in Jersey City. As she and her childhood friends sat on the curb outside the studios, they often found themselves appearing in the background of silent films.

Duffy attended nursing school outside of Philadelphia before returning to her home state to work as an obstetrics nurse. It was during this time that she met her future husband, John Joseph Duffy. Following their marriage in the 1930s, she decided to leave her job to become a stay-at-home mother, while occasionally taking on private nursing assignments. The couple moved to Hoboken, where her father-in-law worked as a fire chief. The couple had one daughter, Maureen Seibel.

In her 50s, she returned to the workforce, taking a job in a home furnishings store, and developing a keen interest in interior design. Her husband passed away in 1976. In the 1980s, she moved to Westminster to be closer to family. In her 70s, she frequently prepared evening meals for the nuns at St. John Catholic Church in Westminster and made a daily walk to attend Mass.

Duffy passed away in Westminster, Maryland, USA, on 28 June 2019, at the age of 111 years, 50 days. She was survived by her daughter, two grandsons, and six great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

At the time of death, she was the second-oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Maryland, behind Downing Kay.

Her age was validated by LongeviQuest on 27 October 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Genevieve Duffy turns 105 years old” – Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2013

* “Remembering Supercentenarian Mrs. Genevieve Duffy” – LifeBridge Health, 14 November 2019

* “Genevieve Cecilia Duffy” – Tribute Archive

GALLERY

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