Shirley Kennedy Duzyk passed away peacefully on April 27 in Lexington, KY, surrounded by her family. She was born on August 20, 1932 in New Castle, PA, and attended New Castle High School. Following her graduation, she worked for Bell Telephone Company until marrying Edward F. Duzyk in 1952. They moved to Mt. Sterling, KY, where she was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, serving on many committees over the years. She also served on the boards of the Mt. Sterling Library and the Lexington Philharmonic.

Shirley devoted her life to her family—her loving husband of 56 years, her four adored (and active!) sons, her daughters-in-law, and the lights of her life, her twelve grandchildren. The door was always open and there was always room at her table. There was not a more genuine, welcoming, unconditionally-loving woman. Shirley's unwavering faith in God and her enormous capacity for joy and laughter enabled her to overcome life's many trials, and to shower her love not only on her family, but also everyone she came into contact with. Her smile, infectious laugh, and crystal blue eyes always lit up the room!

As a mother, she did it all beautifully, though some might question her skills as a disciplinarian. Her epic pies and Christmas-time perogies will be especially missed by all, as will her St. Patrick's Day shenanigans. Her legacy of faith and heartfelt joy will live on in all who were blessed to know and love her.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Edward F. Duzyk, her father, Clyde H. Kennedy, mother Myrtle Clark Kennedy, sisters Louise (Reda) and Mildred (Dudziec), and brother Harrison. She is survived by her sons Danny (Lisa Fyffe), David (Lisa McCoy), Dennis (Michaela Ristich), and Darren (Amy Walker), and her grandchildren Sarah, Chris (Madelyn Mescher), Sam, Lauren (John Maliszewski), Ryan, Colin, Maggie, Michael, Connor, Cooper, Daniel and Sara Langley. She is also survived by her cousins, with whom she was raised as a sister, Eileen Hunt and Tish Kauffman, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

The visitation will be held at Taul Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling on Friday, April 30, from 4-7pm. A private funeral service will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church on Saturday, May 1 with Father Frank Brawner, Father Paul Prable and Father Norman Fischer officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider a restricted donation to St. Patrick Church's Cemetery Fund (139 West Main Street, Mt. Sterling, KY 40353), or to Bluegrass Care Navigators (1733 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY 40504).