Celebrating a century
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 1, 2016 1:46 PM
News-Argus/MELINDA HARRELL
Marion Duffy, right, stands with her granddaughter, Shelby Duffy Benton, at the Senior House at Herman Park Center during Mrs. Duffy's birthday celebration. The people Mrs. Duffy plays bridge with threw her a surprise party before they began their game. She turned 100 years old in July.
Marion Duffy of Goldsboro turned 100 years old in July, but she still plays bridge, drives her car around town and goes to the beach with friends.
"I don't feel 100 years old," she said. "Because I can do everything. I can keep up with the times and enjoy playing cards and enjoy going places."
Mrs. Duffy celebrated her birthday at Emerald Isle on July 8 with her family. She said she received a ruby ring from the entire family, which is the only thing she wanted because it is her birthstone.
But on June 28, she cut loose with her closest friends at the Senior House in Herman Park Center, where she played a game of bridge as usual, wore a corsage and ate cake and ice cream.
"It was just wonderful," she said. "I have many good friends at my bridge group."
Mrs. Duffy was born in Wellsville, N.Y., located near the Pennsylvania state line. She said she worked at Eastman Kodak as a secretary in Rochester, N.Y., for two years until her husband, Basil, found employment in Chicago at Combustion Engineering.
She worked at Factory Mutual as a secretary for 10 years, but after her husband retired they moved back to New York, where she began working at an employment agency.
Her husband passed away in 1998, and Mrs. Duffy realized the majority of her family lived in the South. She moved to Goldsboro almost four years ago to be closer to her granddaughter, Shelby Benton, who is an attorney at Benton Law Firm.
"We are so proud," Mrs. Benton said. "She has been a wonderful support and someone you can call and talk to even at 10:30 at night. She will give you the best advice in the world."
Mrs. Benton's father, David, and her uncles Dean and Peter are Mrs. Duffy's only children, and she said the births of her sons are her greatest memories over the past 100 years.
Mrs. Duffy has eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
"I am very, very blessed and thankful," she said.