Willa Thomasina Duggan

Willa left us peacefully on November 4, 2018 in her home with her loved ones by her side. She was born in San Francisco on October 30, 1947 to the late William Duggan MD and Constance (Rippon) Duggan.  She attended elementary schools at St.Brendan’s and Dudley Stone in San Francisco and attended high school at St. Vincent’s School in Santa Barbara.
She took an active part in her life.  She loved swimming in Special Olympics for many years.  She kept in touch annually with many friends and family members by doing some incredible fundraising work for The Human Race for Lifehouse, Inc.  She was a Lifehouse client most of her adult life and an artist at the Cedars Fine Art Studios for 15 years.  She made beautiful pencil drawings and jewelry…winning 1st place awards at the Marin County Fair several years in a row. Her artwork opened her up in many ways.
Willa had an unforgettable “glowing smile” that touched almost everyone she met.  She was very sensitive and intuitive.  She was a “love magnet” and she taught important life lessons by her special presence.
Willa was predeceased by her parents and her oldest sister, Paula Duggan Metzger. She is survived by her two sisters and brothers in law, Molly Duggan Dowd and Gilmore Dowd M.D.,   Peg Duggan and Bob Shiner;  her  long time caregivers and close friends, Linda Baldwin and Ellen Root; her nieces and nephews, Gilmore Dowd III, Dr. John and Kathleen (Dowd) Belzer, Kevin Dowd DDS, Rick and Kristen (Dowd) Addicks, Benjamin Chambers and Karin Kaufman, and Luke and Erika Chambers; her fifteen grand nieces and nephews; and a number of close cousins.
Willa’s family expresses sincere thanks to the dedicated medical team who were instrumental in her care and quality of life: Anisha Judice RN;  Dr. Elizabeth Seaman, Gail RN;  Dr. Alex Uihlein,  Michelle RN; Dr. Brian Keeffe,  Jolene RN;  and thanks to her support team:  Deanna, Kelly, Cherly, Tajrane, Peaches, Charisse, Coral, Ellen, Linda, Blessie, Holly and her kitty “Joy.”
Friends are invited to call on Thursday, November 15, after 3:30 pm at Mission San Rafael Arcangel, 1104 5th Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901 where the vigil will be offered at 5:00 pm. On Friday, November 16, visitation will start at 10:00 am and the Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am. Committal will be on a later date at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma. Donations may be made to Lifehouse, Inc, 89 Northgate Dr., Suite 500, San Rafael, CA 94903, www.lifehouseagency.org  or to Cedars Fine Art Studios, P.O. Box 947, Ross, CA 94957, cedarslife.org
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Willa Thomasina Duggan, please visit our floral store.