Obituary of Gertrude C. (Duggan) Merrill

Gertrude C. (Duggan) Merrill, R.N, 83, of Peabody, died early Sunday morning at the Salem Hospital after a long illness. She was the wife of the late John Merrill who died in 1995. She was born in Peabody on July 8, 1921 the daughter of the late Cornelius and Mary J. (Sherry) Duggan and resided here all her life. She was a graduate of Peabody High School and Lynn Hospital School of Nursing. She began her career in Nursing at the former Lynn Hospital working in the Labor and Delivery Section and later at Union Hospital where she was a supervisor for 30 years prior to her retirement in 1985. She then worked for seven years at the former Farnsworth Nursing Home in Peabody retiring in 1992. Surviving her are 2 sons and a daughter in law, James and Lee Merrill of Peabody and Richard Merrill of Wellfleet, MA, a daughter, Sherry Ryder of Brewster, 3 grandchildren, James Merrill of Wellfleet, Jonathan Ryder of Brewster, and 1week old Samuel James Merrill of Peabody and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of former Peabody deputy fire chief Daniel Duggan, US Marine corporal James Duggan who was killed in the Korean War and Margaret Duggan. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 8:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill - Brodeur Funeral home at the 20 Church St., Peabody facility followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John’ s Church, Peabody at 9:00 a.m. Visiting hours on Tuesday from 5- 8 PM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Stroke Club of Shaughnessey Rehab. Hospital, Dove Ave., Salem MA 01970 in her memory