Obituary for Darlene M. Duff (McDonald)
Darlene M. Duff, 85, quietly entered eternal life on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at Evergreen Memory Care Unit, Kingsford, Mich.
She was born on January 23, 1938, in Stambaugh, Mich., to the late Mary Ellen and Edwin McDonald. Darlene graduated from Stambaugh High School in 1956. She married James Petroff in 1958, and they moved with their young family to Iron Mountain in 1969, where they became very active in the community. Darlene was very involved with the Iron Mountain Athletic Booster club, American Business Women’s Association, Upper Peninsula Motocross Association, and in later years, Pine Grove Country Club, P.E.O. Chapter CX, Iron Mountain-Kingsford GFWC, and 100 Plus Women Philanthropic Organization. She was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Kingsford, Mich., where she was an elder and a deacon and sang in the choir in her younger years. She held various jobs over the years, including Simone Insurance Agency, Dr. Richard Cecconi’s office, Eagle Tool, State Farm Insurance Agency, and her final and favorite employment was as the secretary of the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford.
In 1983 she married Dale Duff. They were married for 32 wonderful years before he preceded her in death in 2015. Her years with Dale were very special, and they were truly best friends. Together they took many trips around the world, including Ireland, Spain, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. In their retirement years, they wintered in Fort Myers, Florida, and took special enjoyment from living on a golf course, but loved when the kids and grandkids visited so they could spend some beach time.
Darlene was an avid lover of sports, but especially Mountaineer football and basketball and Packers football. When her grandchildren played, many of their friends and other Mountaineer fans affectionately referred to her as “Grandma Dar,” a title she cherished. Even after her grandchildren graduated, she continued to enjoy attending games and cheer on the black and gold until her health kept her away.
She is survived by her children, Jim (Sandy) Petroff, Tom (Lynn) Petroff, Sandi (Dean) Lefebvre, Scott (Shelley) Duff, Patrick (Pattiann) Duff, Kerri (Randy Hovey) Duff, and Jeff Duff. She is also survived by grandchildren Sara (Kevin) Gilmore, Rick (Shantelle) Petroff, Lauren (Brandon) White, T.J. (Cortni Greenleaf) Lefebvre, Kyle (Anthony) Petroff, Jacob (Samantha Wieman) Lefebvre, Ryan (Jessica) Duff, Adam (Elyssa Ammerman) Duff, Tim (Melissa) Krzych, Tori (Zach Luchs) Duff, and Alli Duff.
She was very proud to be a Great Grandma to Chase, Kadence, Alice, Leighton, Layton, Liam, Conor, Caraline, Charlotte, and Max. Sadly, she did not survive for the arrival of her 11th great-grandchild, due in March. Additionally, she is survived by a special sister-in-law, Elizabeth Petroff, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband Dale, she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Donald and Darrel, and her sister Eloise, as well as several brothers-in-law and sister-in-law. Darlene was further preceded in death by her first husband, James in 2007.
The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Evergreen Assisted Living and Memory Care Unit in Kingsford for the loving care Darlene was given during the three years that she lived there.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 13, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Frist Presbyterian Church, Kingsford, Mich. A Celebration of Life will follow on Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the church. Rev. Michael March will officiate.
A memorial will be established in Darlene’s memory.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Darlene’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Darlene’s legacy of life.
She was born on January 23, 1938, in Stambaugh, Mich., to the late Mary Ellen and Edwin McDonald. Darlene graduated from Stambaugh High School in 1956. She married James Petroff in 1958, and they moved with their young family to Iron Mountain in 1969, where they became very active in the community. Darlene was very involved with the Iron Mountain Athletic Booster club, American Business Women’s Association, Upper Peninsula Motocross Association, and in later years, Pine Grove Country Club, P.E.O. Chapter CX, Iron Mountain-Kingsford GFWC, and 100 Plus Women Philanthropic Organization. She was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Kingsford, Mich., where she was an elder and a deacon and sang in the choir in her younger years. She held various jobs over the years, including Simone Insurance Agency, Dr. Richard Cecconi’s office, Eagle Tool, State Farm Insurance Agency, and her final and favorite employment was as the secretary of the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford.
In 1983 she married Dale Duff. They were married for 32 wonderful years before he preceded her in death in 2015. Her years with Dale were very special, and they were truly best friends. Together they took many trips around the world, including Ireland, Spain, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. In their retirement years, they wintered in Fort Myers, Florida, and took special enjoyment from living on a golf course, but loved when the kids and grandkids visited so they could spend some beach time.
Darlene was an avid lover of sports, but especially Mountaineer football and basketball and Packers football. When her grandchildren played, many of their friends and other Mountaineer fans affectionately referred to her as “Grandma Dar,” a title she cherished. Even after her grandchildren graduated, she continued to enjoy attending games and cheer on the black and gold until her health kept her away.
She is survived by her children, Jim (Sandy) Petroff, Tom (Lynn) Petroff, Sandi (Dean) Lefebvre, Scott (Shelley) Duff, Patrick (Pattiann) Duff, Kerri (Randy Hovey) Duff, and Jeff Duff. She is also survived by grandchildren Sara (Kevin) Gilmore, Rick (Shantelle) Petroff, Lauren (Brandon) White, T.J. (Cortni Greenleaf) Lefebvre, Kyle (Anthony) Petroff, Jacob (Samantha Wieman) Lefebvre, Ryan (Jessica) Duff, Adam (Elyssa Ammerman) Duff, Tim (Melissa) Krzych, Tori (Zach Luchs) Duff, and Alli Duff.
She was very proud to be a Great Grandma to Chase, Kadence, Alice, Leighton, Layton, Liam, Conor, Caraline, Charlotte, and Max. Sadly, she did not survive for the arrival of her 11th great-grandchild, due in March. Additionally, she is survived by a special sister-in-law, Elizabeth Petroff, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband Dale, she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Donald and Darrel, and her sister Eloise, as well as several brothers-in-law and sister-in-law. Darlene was further preceded in death by her first husband, James in 2007.
The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Evergreen Assisted Living and Memory Care Unit in Kingsford for the loving care Darlene was given during the three years that she lived there.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 13, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Frist Presbyterian Church, Kingsford, Mich. A Celebration of Life will follow on Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the church. Rev. Michael March will officiate.
A memorial will be established in Darlene’s memory.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Darlene’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Darlene’s legacy of life.