Ferdinand "Fred" Duda

ATHOL - Ferdinand "Fred" Duda, 79, of 739 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol, has been called home to be with the Lord on, Thursday, September 13, 2007 after a brief illness while residing at Quabbin Valley Nursing Home. Born in Montague, on April 19, 1928, the son of John and Zofia (Owsiana) Duda, Fred was raised in Turners Falls and graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1945. Shortly after, he made his home in Gardner were he raised his family with his wife Philena (who predeceased him in 2000), for nearly fifty years. Many in and around the area got to know Fred as "The Fuller Brush Man" in the 1960s and later he continued in door-to-door sales with ALA and AAA until his retirement Always genuinely concerned for people, he served faithfully in the St. Vincent de Paul Society where he brought food to those in need. He was past president of Catholic Friends while a member of Sacred Heart Church in Gardner. Fred also belonged to the Knights of Columbus, the AARP, and the Athol Golden Agers. He was a communicant of Our Lady Immaculate Church in Athol. He enjoyed volunteering, traveling, walking, swimming, bicycling, social activities and The Red Sox. Also, he kept in close touch with his loving family. Fred had the pleasure of traveling to Poland to meet relatives on his mother's side. He fulfilled his wish to meet everyone he had corresponded with and to speak his native language, bonding and learning about his ancestry while there. His undying devotion to God and family, his passion for life and his generosity to others were just a few of the many fine examples of his true nature, and he will be greatly missed by those whose lives he touched. He leaves his best friend and wife of four years: Geralda (Chiasson) (Frenette) Duda, his loving daughter, Kathleen Bennett and her husband Gary of Templeton; four beloved sons, Stephen, Dennis and Thomas all of Gardner, Charles Duda and his wife Tina of Fitchburg; one sister, Christine Bourdeau and her husband Paul of Carollton, TX; one brother, Henry "Monty" Duda and his wife Joan of Turners Falls; eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. He also leaves two step sons, Glenn Frenette and his wife Brenda of Athol; Paul Frenette and his wife Joan of Windsor, CT; eight step grandchildren; five step great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews and many cousins in Massachusetts and Poland. Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 17, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery at a later date. Calling hours will be held Monday, September 17, from 9 to 10:30 Am at the Fiske Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to St. Vincent DePaul Society 166 Cross St., Gardner, MA 01440 or to a charity of one´s choice. For more information or to sign our online guest book please visit www.fiskefuneralhome.com. Fiske Funeral Home 1356 Main Street, Athol is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });