Mr. Francis L. Curley Sr.

Francis Curley, 92, formerly of Lee, passed away Thursday morning, November 12, 2015, at Springside Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center in Pittsfield under the care of Hospice. He was born in Pittsfield on November 7, 1923, the son of Thomas and Mary Andreotta Curley. Francis and his brothers and sisters grew up in the North End of Pittsfield. When Francis was growing up, he was a communicant of St. Charles Church, and he also was an altar boy. He attended St Charles Elementary School and St Joseph's High School until the 10th grade, and he went off to work to help support his family during the Great Depression. Shortly after their first son, Francis, Jr. was born, Francis & Mary Castronova moved to Lee and resided on 82 Dublin Hill in a home adjacent to the Castronova home where Mary Castronova and her family resided. While living in Lee, Francis worked in the Peter J. Sweitzer Paper Mills which were eventually purchased by the Kimberly Clark Corporation. While working in the Lee paper mills, Francis was a treasurer for the local paper makers Union. He was a member of the Greenock Country Club and he spent several years as a board member of the Club. Francis was also a member of the Third and Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus and he was a past Grand Knight of Lee Council # 314, and a Past State District Deputy. He also was a Past Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus. He also was a member of The Honor Guard of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus. When Francis retired, he and his wife Mary traveled to Ireland, Italy, Scotland & Wales, etc., as well as taking several trips in the United States. During his retirement, Francis also drove limousines for the Kelly Funeral Home in Lee and the Roche Funeral Home in Lenox and several funeral homes in Pittsfield. Francis was predeceased by his wife, the former Mary T. Castronova, to whom he was married for over 65 years. She passed away on October 22, 2011. He is survived by a son Francis L. Curley, Jr. and his wife Linda, a daughter Marie Perrea and her husband Thomas all of Pittsfield; four grandchildren, Lt. Colonel Michael Anthony Curley and his wife Danielle, Kevin Curley and his wife Kyla, Melissa Perrea and Christopher Perrea; a brother Joseph and his wife Ruth of Pittsfield; sisters in law, Gladys Kresiak of Lee, Jeanne Curley of Pittsfield, Patricia Castronova of Lee, and Leonilda (Lil) Curley of Ohio; seven great grandchildren, Isabelle & Gabriel Curley, Maxwell & Piper Lee Curley, Malakai and Justice Lytle and Matthew Perrea. Francis was predeceased by a son Michael Anthony who died in 1970, a grandchild Thomas Perrea Jr., and Francis' brothers : Bernard, Thomas, William, and a sister Marie Curley. He was also predeceased by Mary's three of four Castronova sisters and five Castronova brothers. Funeral Notice: At the request of Francis, Funeral Services will be Monday, November 16, 2015 at 10 a.m. the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St. , Pittsfield MA with the Rev. A. Peter Gregory, pastor of St. Charles Church, officiating. Burial will be at a later date. A reception will take place after the service at the Dwyer Funeral Home. Memorial donations can be made to Hospice Services of Western and Central MA, care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, in his memory.

Mr. Francis L. Curley Sr.

November 7, 1923 - November 12, 2015