My mom was a very easy going person. I only remember her losing “it” once, soon after my dad passed away. I don’t know why I don’t take after my mom in that way. Let’s see, which of her fine traits do I have? Hummm….the only thing I can think of is faith. Mom was a woman of faith.

She did not have an easy life with my dad. However, my dad was a good provider – mom never had to work. She was able to stay at home with each of us three daughters. In spite of this, my dad’s childhood left him with some bad habits. Then serving during World War II didn’t help as that added to his drinking, gambling and chain smoking. For some reason these bad habits impacted my parents marriage. It was very tumultuous. In fact, as a teenager, I remember praying they would divorce. It was rather unpleasant. But as they aged, they learned to get along. How blessed they were to celebrate 55 years of marriage before he passed. As bad of habits as dad had, he was also a man of faith.

My husband often asked mom why didn’t I take more after her, not after my dad’s temperament? As I have aged, I have prayed and prayed to “settle” down. God finally got my attention-hopefully my temperament has improved. Bad circumstances can have good results. I know my dad also settled down in his later years.

My mom’s best traits were her socialization skills. She not only loved her family, she never met a stranger. All my friends loved mom and as people who have known her express their condolences, they all say how kind and loving she was. And this was even more apparent as mom’s health declined. She was dependent on lots of nursing care – and how they came to love her!

Mom was a simple woman and unpretentious. She had her priorities right. I have such great childhood memories! Mom was also very good to her grandchildren, always wanting to show them a good time when together. My daughter was her only granddaughter so I do have to say, they had a very special bond.

As much as we hated the diagnosis of lung cancer, it made us all want to spend as much time with her as we could – and we did her last few months. This was something mom always wanted – more time with her family. But then, mom passed before we could spend one more weekend with her….You can never spend enough time with loved ones until they pass and your time has ended …. here on earth. I’m so grateful I KNOW I will be reunited one day with mom, my dad, my step dad, my brother (in-law)…

Mom’s Obituary

Dorothy Jean Duncan (nee Tuell), of  Newport News, VA died on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 after a short battle with cancer. She was 96.

Dorothy was born on August 19, 1923 to Clarence and Amanda Tuell in Brownstown, Indiana. She was the youngest of three sisters. She lived in Brownstown until approximately 1944 when she moved to Pueblo, Colorado where she met and married Lawrence Rijnovan. Lawrence served in World War II and continued to serve in the United States Air Force until he retired in Hampton, Virginia in 1965. This marriage took her around the world. She loved being an Officer’s wife. She served as a volunteer at the various bases where they were stationed. They were married for 55 years until his death in 1999. After being widowed for five years, she met and married Clifford Duncan. They were married for 12 years until he succumbed to cancer in 2015.

Dorothy is best remembered as a woman of faith and a humble follower of Jesus Christ. She belonged to a local church wherever she lived. Most recently, she attended church where she resided, The Arbors of Port Warwick. She was also known as a kind and loving soul to everyone she met. It was often said, “she never met a stranger!”

She is remembered with love by three daughters, Penny Huebsch (Jerome), Marsha (Mel) Renn, Debra (Bill) Lees, four grandchildren, Peter (Glynis) Jensen; Stephen P Linkous, Jr., Sean Linkous (Katy) and Jessica (Shane) Cox; seven great grandchildren and one great, great grand daughter. 

She is also remembered with love by three step children: Karen Duncan Pennington (Sam Benson); Harold Duncan (Carol); Donna (Ronald) Fonk. Five step grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. And one nephew, Paul Rodney Elstrod; her sister-in-love, Eleanora (James) Daly and her three children and numerous great nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Helen Elstrod and Esther Gunn and one nephew, Jack Elstrod.

There will be a private graveside service officiated by Jerry Bennett, Pastor for the Arbors of Port Warwick. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Please make any donations to your favorite charity in her honor. Claytor Rollings Funeral Home, Poquoson, Virginia is in charge of arrangements.

Slide Show of Memories:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21