Remembering My Father, Tom Duff
Today, on his Month’s Mind Mass, we gathered to honor the memory of my beloved father, Tom Duff—a man whose life was woven with music, laughter, and love.
To all the musicians, singers, and dear friends who joined us: thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your presence, your voices, and the beautiful melodies you shared brought comfort and joy, reflecting so perfectly the soul of the man we remember.
Music was his language, his heartbeat—and today, it became our way of keeping him close.
It’s a gift to see his legacy living on in every note played, every story told, and every smile sparked by his memory. As we continue to celebrate his life, may we carry forward the joy he brought into this world—and keep the music playing in his honor.
As we sat together today—surrounded by music, memory, and the quiet echoes of his laughter—I couldn’t help but feel that Dad was with us, smiling in that way only he could, proud and humble all at once.
He wasn’t just a man who loved music. He lived it. It ran through his veins, filled our home, and stitched our lives together. Whether it was a gentle tune on a Sunday afternoon or a spontaneous singalong with friends, music was how he connected with the world—and how the world connected with him.
Today reminded me that grief and gratitude often walk hand in hand. We miss him deeply. But in missing him, we remember the fullness of who he was: a father, a friend, a storyteller, a soul who gave more than he ever asked for in return.
The stories shared, the songs sung, the hands held—it all reminded us that his spirit is still very much alive in the spaces between us, in the chords that linger after the music fades.
So let us continue to keep his memory alive not just in silence, but in song. In the way we gather, in the way we love, and in the way we lift one another—just as he always did.
Dad, we love you. We remember you. And we promise, your song goes on.