Father Pat returns for funerals of parish stalwarts

St Alphonsus Parish in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, has said farewell to two of its oldest parishioners.

Jimmy Duffy, who was 100, died on March 24 and his wife Chrissie, who was 95, passed away just six weeks later, on May 5.

The Berwick Hills couple married at St Francis Church, Acklam, 73 years ago and were devout Catholics, attending Mass at St Alphonsus Church every day until the Covid lockdowns.

Parishioners said you could set your watch by them going to Mass every morning, Chrissie in front, walking faster than Jimmy could keep up!

Former St Alphonsus parish priest Father Pat Day came over from Ireland to officiate at both funerals.

The couple attended Lourdes several times and also Medjugorje, while Chrissie went to Walsingham and Mount Grace and was always helping out in the church in her younger days.

They will be sadly missed by all who knew them, but they are together again with son Joseph and daughter Christine, who died in the 1970s.

They leave behind a heartbroken family of seven children, 13 grandchildren, 12 greatgrandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.