Julia (Dyber) Curtin

Julia (Dyber) Curtin, age 91, beloved and cherished mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on June 7, 2014 at Hartford Hospital with her family by her side. Julia was born on January 16, 1923 in Hartford to the late Michael and Johanna (Lasko) Dyber. She graduated from East Hartford High School in 1940 where she played basketball and was a member of numerous clubs.

Julia was employed by Pratt & Whitney for many years, retiring in 1989. She was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in East Hartford. She married John Robert Curtin Sr. (deceased) and they made their home in East Hartford.

She was a devoted mother who cherished time spent with her family. A light hearted woman, she had a loving and gentle nature with a great sense of humor. She was an avid NY Yankees fan and enjoyed watching UCONN Men’s and Women’s basketball. In her younger years, Julia enjoyed ice skating, bowling, knitting, crocheting and vacationing at Point O’Woods beach. She also enjoyed bingo, playing cards, and trips to the casino.

She will be dearly missed by her son, Thomas E. Curtin, of East Hartford who provided in home care for Julia for many years, her four daughters, Carole Curtin Earle of Glastonbury, Jeanne Curtin Chebro and her husband Michael of North Woodstock, Julie Curtin Lawlor and her husband Michael of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and Janice Curtin Comas and her husband Darby of Avon, her sister, Lottie McElhanon of East Hartford; her two special sisters in-law, Kathleen Cummisky and Eva Curtin both of East Hartford; nine grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren, and many very special nieces and nephews.

Julia was pre-deceased by her son John R. Curtin Jr., her grandson David Ryan Raftery, her siblings Walter, John, Mary, and Helen and her son in-law J. Baylis Earle.

Julia’s family would like to express their deep gratitude to the nursing and medical staff at Hartford Hospital’s ICU and Palliative/Hospice care units.

Flowers are welcome or donations may be made to your favorite charity in her name or to the Hartford Hospital Palliative Care Fund, Attn: Fund development department, 80 Seymour St. Hartford, CT 06102.

Funeral Services will begin Thursday, June 12th, 2014 at 9AM at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10AM at St. Mary Church, 15 Maplewood Ave., East Hartford. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 11th, 2014 from 4 to 7PM, at Benjamin J. Callahan Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave., East Hartford, CT 06108.

To view leave an online condolence, please visit www.callahanfuneral.com