Teresa Duddy Cottrell, 67, was born on July 4, 1945, in Butte, to Neil and Mary (Nolan) Duddy. She was the red-headed “Fire-cracker” born in the middle of 10 children.
Teresa’s greatest accomplishments were the births of her two children, Terri Lee Torrence in 1970 and Danny Mike Torrence in 1977. In 1982, she was lucky to find the love of her life, Darrell Cottrell. They were married in November 1986, and in January 1987, moved to Kalispell.
Mom was always there to play a Monopoly or a Clue marathon or put together a large puzzle that would take up the entire kitchen table for weeks. Aunt Teresa was a champ at the Pac Man video and could play a game of baseball like one of the kids.
Teresa was an amazing certified nurse’s aide, a career she enjoyed and excelled in for close to 40 years. She worked at St. James Hospital and Silver Bow General when she lived in Butte. Then she worked for the Brendan House in Kalispell until she retired due to illness. She made many close friends but none as great as Jackie Rawlings and her children of Kalispell.
Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2012 and for the last nine months fought the beast inside her. In those short months she enjoyed her family with many trips to Butte for her first experience of the Montana Folk Festival and the Relay for Life. She put up a strong front and a fierce fight, however on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 22, 2012, she lost the battle. She will always be remembered for her strong will and determination to overcome this terrible disease.
Teresa was met in heaven by her parents and her brothers, Frank Nolan, Jim and Dan Duddy, and her sister, Agnes Duddy Cortez, along with her brother-in-law, Ron Robbins.
Those left behind to miss her dearly are her husband, Darrell Cottrell of Kalispell; her children, Terri and Bill Boyle of Butte and Dan Torrence of Kalispell, along with grandchildren, Nolan and Quinn Boyle, Ashleigh (Boyle) and Dennis Reed and their son, Ean, all of Butte, and Cinna Boyle of Missoula. She also leaves several brothers and sisters, Anna and Frank Mischkot, Mary and Ed Sukovsky, Neil and Dorothy Duddy, Margaret Robbins, Carol Duddy and Hazel Duddy, all of Butte and John Duddy of St. Charles, Mo. She loved her cousins, Colleen and Henry Klobucar, and Betty and Ron Fournier, along with several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Race Track Fire Hall, corner of Grand and Farragut. A memorial account has been established in Teresa’s name at the Heritage Federal Credit Union, 2101 Yale Ave., Butte, 59701.
