Holly Duffy Walls, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, died at home on June 6, 2026, surrounded by her family. Her generosity and thoughtfulness, her laughter and warmth, her truths, and her immense gifts of love to us are alive in all our hearts.
Holly was born in Chicago on June 11, 1947. She grew up in the nearby suburb of Riverside, the oldest of Terence and Helen Duffy’s six children. She went to St. Mary’s School (Riverside), Trinity High School (River Forest, Illinois), and after a year at Clarke University (Iowa), attended the University of Dayton (Ohio). Holly was an English major, and an avid reader throughout her life. She eagerly shared her favorite books. During her early time in Dayton, her decision to take a stand for her political beliefs led her to a group of like-minded friends. Many of them stayed in her life and heart to the present. Holly spent time after college living in the country in Farmersville, Ohio, which remained one of the happiest periods of her life, and was a time that deeply influenced what she valued and sought in her future. Holly carried her spirit of loving care and attention to relationships across the country and across time. Her shelves are full of letters, photographs and gifts that reflect the richness of these friendships.
Holly met her husband Joe while living in Farmersville. Their relationship blossomed while traveling through Europe, and when they returned, they moved to Riverside and then to Berwyn, got married, and began a family. Soon after the1980 tornado, they moved to a small rental house in Kalamazoo with their newborn daughter Helen. On an evening walk, they spotted their dream house on Spruce Drive, and when a “For Sale” sign appeared as an omen on the front lawn a short time later, it soon became their family home where they raised their three children and together enjoyed over forty wonderful years.
Holly stayed at home during the early years of her children’s lives, somehow fitting in time to hold multiple classes for dozens of families preparing for natural childbirth, and to earn a master’s degree in special education from Western Michigan University. Shortly afterwords, she began teaching high school and later took the position of Transition Coordinator for her school district, where she was instrumental in developing a program that provided her students with real work experience to help them with the change to post-school life. She had a passion for this work and cared deeply for the success of the students she supported.
In recent years Holly enjoyed the slower pace of retired life; greeting friends, gardening, planning lively overnights with the grandchildren and kitchen chats with her sister, Mary. We loved her gentle presence in our gardens and homes, when saying our family prayer at meals, in the voices of our children and grandchildren, in all the things we seek, and where we find love and joy. Her cosmos seeds have made their way to both coasts.
Holly thrived in the beauty of nature and found great peace there. Lake Michigan was a special place for her. She spent many summer days walking along the shore, reading on the beach, swimming in the waves, and searching for glass rocks; later enjoying the brilliant horizon sunsets and silent starry nights. She had an openness to experience and a desire to savor the magical places that held significance for her. Holly was drawn to sites tied to her family’s Irish heritage. She even obtained Irish citizenship. Other locations were found in her readings and conversations with friends. Holly relished her travels – from a monastery in Sligo, to canoes on the Missouri River, she often brought us along for the journey.
Holly found comfort in her faith throughout her life and always strived to deepen her spiritual practice. Her devout father was her model. As an adult she was gently led through much of this process by Sister Gertrude, CSJ, who was an instrumental spiritual guide for her. Holly so missed both of her heroes. She found great comfort, too, in communing with those she loved, and with centering prayer, meditation, and creating meaningful ways to celebrate special occasions. Her candlelit solstice gatherings were renowned. Other candles burned overnight to honor the departed. She had a special place for yoga, and a very special yoga teacher. Holly’s spirituality lives on in the daily flow of all our lives.
Our dear Holly is survived by her husband Joe and their three children—Helen (Nelson)Bell, Ann (Benjamin Pineda) Walls, and Jeff (Jocelin) Walls. She has five grandchildren—Lucas, Ines, and Luisa Pineda Walls; and Lucy and Violet Walls. She has three living siblings—Mary, Jim (Jill Jasuta) Duffy and Tom (StellaDurango) Duffy. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Joe and Marty Duffy, as well as a beloved aunt, Cele Duffy.
