Crew
Makena Duffy
Photo Credit: Miriam Sebring
Director • Producer • Photographer • Editor
“Bill, Ramona, and Padre Pio have been close companions of mine for over three years now. Since meeting Bill’s nephew Chuck, I have spent innumerable hours transcribing hundreds of pages of letters, repairing and digitizing cassette tapes, archiving countless photographs, and tracking down and interviewing those who knew Bill during his lifetime. I am delighted to now present his story to others. Bill’s life only overlapped mine by a few short years and we never met in person, but I’ve grown to think of him as an intimate friend - it’s hard not to feel close to someone when you’ve read all of their mail! I’ve certainly felt the Finger of God directing my own life as I’ve worked on this project and hope viewers will take away from Bill’s story a greater sense of the reality of the communion of saints and of the work of Providence.”
Makena Duffy is a documentary director and editor from O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. She studied Digital Cinema and Communicology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. This is her first documentary feature. You can find out more about her work at www.makenaduffy.com
Photo Credit: Juliana Lamb
Ava R. Montes
Producer • Story
Ava is a teacher, writer, artist, and graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville where she studied English Writing. She is currently obtaining her M.A. in Theological Studies from Franciscan. She lives on Florida’s Space Coast, where she enjoys the aesthetic combination of stars, sky, and sea. She spends her free time collecting blank notebooks and catering to her needy old cat, Beenzo. Ava is currently writing a biography on William Carrigan. You can find out more about her work at avamonteswriter.com
“When I first got involved with Bill Carrigan’s story, I thought it would be a college summer project. Little did I know it would become one of the most interesting endeavors I’d ever undertaken. Over the last few years of researching, interviewing, writing, and editing, the project stretched me and put me in positions I never thought I’d hold (film co-producer? Come on, that’s pretty cool).
Many aspects of Bill’s life are compelling, but my favorite is his unwavering dedication to personal virtue even in the midst of great international or cultural evils. His life, presented in this documentary, stands as a testament to what God can do with a person who is attentive to Him. I sincerely hope you come to know Bill and Ramona as old friends, as I have. Enjoy!”
Chuck Furr
executive producer
Charles “Chuck” Furr (1938–2024) grew up on a farm in Waseca, Minnesota, with his 16 siblings, step-siblings, and half-siblings. He was the nephew of William M. “Bill” Carrigan through his mother Loretta Marie. Chuck maintained a relationship with both Bill and Ramona Carrigan over the course of several decades. He served as Bill’s legal guardian during Bill’s final two years of earthly life. In the two decades since his Uncle Bill’s passing, Chuck worked to preserve and promote his uncle’s story. After a long and successful career with the Dow Chemical Company that took him to many places across the U.S., Chuck retired with his beloved late wife, Marilyn, to Kailua, Hawaii, where he currently resided until his death. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and Serra Club and served on Serra International’s board of directors, supporting Catholic vocations. Chuck was father to daughter and son, Janet and David, grandfather to their children, and a great-grandfather. He was proud of having co-produced a feature film in his 80’s and was excited to share it with his large extended family and even larger community of friends. Chuck passed away peacefully on October 7th, 2024, finally getting to see his beloved Marilyn again on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.