Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Ginny Curtis Remembered As Feisty, Energetic

Note: Story originally posted Monday, Sept. 20, 2010
Brockton Post
BROCKTON—Family and friends Tuesday will fondly remember the life of one of the city’s most active and energetic residents—Mary Virginia (Long) Curtis—who led a lifetime of service and involvement in the city.
“She was feisty and she had a ton of energy. She was always involved, she was always ready to help,” said Ward 2 City Councilor Thomas Monahan.
Known as “Ginny,” Curtis died Thursday, Sept. 16 surrounded by her loved ones at Braemoor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Brockton after struggling with medical problems for several years.
She was 91-years-old.
Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, Sept. 21 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Russell & Pica Funeral Home, 165 Belmont St., followed by a funeral mass at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Church, 335 Main St. Internment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Brockton.
Curtis was very well known throughout the city because of her tireless involvement in many community activities and organizations.
She was a founding member of Brockton Interfaith Community, a board member of the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, a Neighborhood Crime Watch leader, a volunteer at the Council on Aging, an indispensable fundraiser for the public library and was an active member of the Democratic City Committee and volunteered for many candidates’ runs for state and local elections.
Monahan said he and state Senator Thomas Kennedy have known Curtis since they were young boys.
“She actually babysat for Tom,” Monahan said.
Monahan said Curtis helped him campaign for his current seat on the City Council.
“She was a great lady,” he said.
In 1999 Curtis was awarded Woman of the Year by the Commission on Women’s Issues and the same year she received the Enterprise Champion of the City award.
For decades Curtis lived on Winthrop Street adjacent to James Edgar Playground, where she admonished young residents to take care of their community and volunteered countless hours keeping the park clean and safe.
Monahan said a group of residents will collect donations for a plaque in Curtis’ honor to be placed at the playground. Monahan said the plan is to dedicate the plaque next spring when volunteers hold the next park cleanup.
While Curtis will be remembered for her involvement in civic and political affairs, she was also a leader in the religious community.
A lifelong member of St. Patrick Church, Curtis also served the church as a Eucharist Minister and Alter Server.
Monahan, also a member of St. Patrick’s, said Curtis kept an eye on him and if he missed Sunday mass, she required he say several prayers as penance.
“If I missed Sunday mass, I heard about it,” he said.
For more information on Curtis’ funeral arrangements and directions, please visit Russell & Pica Funeral Home.

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