PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mary Kelley Curry of 53 Commonwealth Ave. died Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at Kimball Farms Nursing Center in Lenox following a long illness.

Born June 5, 1929, in Waltham, Mass., daughter of the late Thomas J. Kelley and Esther Crouse Kelley, she was a 1948 graduate of Pittsfield High School, where she was active in school activities. She also was a graduate of the former St Luke’s School of Nursing in Pittsfield, Mass.

Mrs. Curry started her nursing career at the former St Luke’s Hospital, where she was an assistant head nurse in surgery, and after starting a family was employed at St Luke’s as evening head nurse in the pediatric unit. She also did private duty at the former Pittsfield General Hospital and then worked at Hillcrest Hospital. Following her hospital career she worked for Thomas McNulty M.D. cardiologist/internist for eight years before retiring in 2000.

A communicant of Sacred Heart Church she was a member of the Rosary Sodality, the Parish Council and a Eucharistic Minister and also was a pastoral minister at Berkshire Medical Center. Mrs. Curry was a member of the St Luke’s School of Nursing Alumni Association. She was a Cub Scout Den mother for Pack 20 for seven years and a Girl Scout Berkshire County Cookie chairman for 10 years, Vice-president of the Plunkett Lake Association in Hinsdale. Mrs. Curry and her husband were co-presidents of the Tri-town Trotters square dance club in Lenox. She was treasurer for the South Little League for six years and served on the committee for the State Babe Ruth games held in Pittsfield. Also, she was co-chairman of the Gib Kittredge Hockey Tournament for three years and then Treasurer for another three years. She was awarded the Boy’s Club “Mrs. C Award”, which was named in her honor and presented to her for being the woman who did the most for the hockey program. Each year this tradition has been carried on in her name. In 1982 she was honored with the Boy’s Club Mother of the Year plaque. Mrs. Curry belonged to the Pittsfield Grange #14. She was a frequent blood donor.

Mrs. Curry and her husband Walter would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this coming November. They were married on November 8, 1952, at Sacred Heart Church. Mrs. Curry loved to play bridge at The Senior Center and then at the Dalton Community Center. She was also a avid greeting card designer and loved to send people her cards. She loved all kinds of crafts. She and her husband liked to spend time in Cape Cod, Alaska and Ireland.

She was predeceased by her sister, Dorothy K. Smith of Lakeland, Fla. 

She leaves seven children, Glenn T. Curry, Karin S. Bradley and her husband Scott, Joseph “Jody” W. Curry and his wife Robin, Thomas W. Curry and his wife Deborah, Paul M. Curry and his wife Brenda all of Pittsfield. Craig J. Curry and his wife Tracey of Walworth, N.Y., and Marie-Ellen Wool and her husband David of Dudley, Mass.; a brother, Roland T. Kelley of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and 16 grandchildren, Michelle Curry, Amanda Curry, Crista Curry, Michalea Curry, Nicholaus Bradley, Christopher Bradley, Kathryn Bradley, John Wool, Eric Wool, Nathan Wool, Lindsay Curry, Lauren Curry, Rebecca Curry, Thomas Curry, Timothy Curry and Sara Curry.

Funeral notice: Funeral services for Mary Kelley will be held Monday, June 5, 2017, at 11:15 am. from Dery Funeral Home with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at noon at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. 

Calling hours will be held Sunday, June 4, 2017, from 5 to 7  p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers contributions in Mrs. Curry’s memory may be made to St Luke’s Alumni Association, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or the Make A Wish Foundation all in care of the funeral home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.