Scranton Stories is an oral history video series featuring 33 individuals who have lived or worked in the city of Scranton. These videos are part of the larger project, Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story, which is a community-wide exploration of themes such as history, belonging, and identity. DiscoverNEPA will share these unique, personal “Scranton Stories” in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
Rooted in Kindness, Maureen Duffy Builds Community Through Connection
Maureen Duffy was born into a large, happy Irish Catholic family in West Scranton where her family traditions of hospitality provided life lessons about making others feel welcome. Growing up, she and her eight siblings would visit a family member in a nursing home, and her mother would send the children to visit with residents who had no visitors. This experience would propel Maureen into not only a life of service, but of endless social curiosity.
A long-time owner of Duffy’s Accessories in Scranton and an advocate for the local art scene, she goes out of her way to interact with anyone she comes across, especially those who may come from different backgrounds, in her community volunteer work and her job at the Scranton Housing Authority. She believes that Americans need to open themselves up to experiences and perspectives different from their own so that we can learn about one another in order to come together.
