Joan Duffy Gaske

Joan Marie Duffy Gaske, 90, devoted wife and mother, passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2021.  Joan was born in Washington, DC on January 22, 1931 to James Wilson Duffy and Frances Moyer Duffy.  She grew up in Towson, MD and was a graduate of both Notre Dame High School and Notre Dame College.  Days before her college graduation she married her husband of 70 years, Marvin Colgan Gaske, in the Naval Academy chapel.  In their early years, the couple moved regularly with Marvin’s Air Force tours of duty before settling in Bethesda, Maryland in 1960, where they lived for 25 years.  After moving to Annapolis for a number of years, the couple moved to Riderwood Village in Silver Spring where they lived the past 18 years.  When the last of her children reached high school age, Joan went back to school and received a master’s degree in library science at Catholic University.  An avid reader, Joan established a library at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church and was the librarian for the Holton-Arms Upper School in Bethesda in the 1970s and 1980s.  She also was an active volunteer in various Girl Scout adult leadership roles and later was an active volunteer for Catholic services at the Riderwood Chapel.  Her greatest joy was in following the activities of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her loving husband, Marvin; her sister, Ann Milligan of Baltimore; her four children, J. Stephen Gaske (Patricia) of Fredericksburg, VA, T. Paul Gaske (Ellen Anne) of Rockville, MD, Mary Ellen Gaske of Falls Church, VA and J. Philip Gaske (Leslie) of Henderson, NV;  her nine grandchildren, Mike Gaske (Laura), Andrew Gendreau (Rachel), Kevin Gaske (Allison), Dennis Gaske, Austin Gaske (Michele), Alison Gaske, Caitlin Gaske Norris (Nick), Karen Gaske Anderson (Trevor), and Matthew Gaske; and six great-grandchildren, Forrest, Reagan, Walker and Archer Gaske, and Audrey and Claire Gendreau.

Joan lived a very full and energetic life.  Her love, encouragement and wisdom will be missed by all. There will be a mass dedicated in her honor June 19th at 11:00 AM in the Chapel at Riderwood Village and there will be an Interment Service at the US Naval Academy Columbarium on June 22 at 9:00 am