It is with sad hearts that we announce the departure of our dear mother, Helen 'Elly' Dorothy Duff, née Mezzanotti. Elly passed away peacefully at her home in Marshfield, Mass. on Dec. 17, 2019 surrounded by her children. She was 86 years old.

Helen was born during a snowstorm at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, Mass. on January 10, 1933 to the late Albert and Emmanuelle 'Helen' Mezzanotti. The Mezzanottis were part of a large extended family of Italian Americans and Italian immigrants. She and her older brother, Al Jr., moved with their parents to Glendale neighborhood of Worcester, Mass.

After graduating from high school in 1951, Helen graduated from Regis College in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Elly met her future husband, the late John B. Duff, working side by side at the Jersey shore in the summer of 1951.

John and Helen were married in October 1955 at the Holy Rosary Church in Glendale. For a short time, Elly worked as a dietician at the East Orange Veteran's Hospital and soon became pregnant with her first child that same year. Across the next decade the family settled in Livingston, N.J. where Mom raised five children while teaching a home economics class at her children's elementary school, volunteering regularly as a referee for the basketball team or as Girl Scout leader for her daughters' troop.

In 1976, the Duff family moved to Lowell, Mass. Elly sang in the choir at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and made friends around the Lowell area before relocating to Duxbury, Mass., where she raised her youngest and sixth child Emily Anne. There, Elly enjoyed working the polls during election season, working on her myriad crafts, which ranged from quilting, to knitting, to sewing and upholstering. She enjoyed riding her bike around Duxbury and hosting her ever-growing family for beach weekends, homemade pizza parties and family events all year long.

Helen relocated to Marshfield in 2007 and was one of the most avid walkers in her condo community, where she could be seen walking even in the most inclement weather until just before her death. In her later years, she could be found reading every major political columnist daily, and often tuned into political pundits on television or radio. She also loved listening to music, especially the big band jazz singers of the 20 ^th century, and loved old movies, funny movies and humorous literature. She had a huge sense of humor and a big, hearty laugh. Elly loved a funny story and was never shy about sharing a laugh, even if it was with a clerk she had never met in the supermarket.

Helen would say that it was her six children, most of all, who made her the happiest, in no small part by giving her eight beautiful grandchildren, whom she loved with all her heart.

Helen is survived by her children Michael Duff, Reenie Duff, Patricia Duff Bernacki (Jim Bernacki), John Duff (Jillian Duff), Robert Duff (Gigi Duff) and Emily Duff (Loudon Stearns); her grandchildren Claudia, Nicholas, Henry, Madelaine, Casey, Charlotte, Emma and Kathyrn; her brother Albert Mezzanotti, Jr. (Ann Mezzanotti); plus all of her  beloved nephews, nieces and extended family.

A memorial will be held for Helen Duff in Duxbury, Mass. on July 5, 2020. For updated service information and to sign the online guest book please visit the website macdonaldfuneralhome.com