Mary Ellen McCurdy

Our beloved mother and best friend, Mary Ellen Miller McCurdy, 86, was received in the arms of Jesus on Friday, October 10, 2008. Mary was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on May 14, 1922 fourteen minutes after her twin sister Bernardine Miller. She was the loving daughter of the late Ellen Canice Garrity Miller and James Tobias Miller formerly of West Springfield, Massachusetts. Her husband Robert Scoville McCurdy predeceased her in 1998.

Mary and her late husband were long time residents of West Springfield, MA where they raised eight beautiful children. She attended Cathedral High School and graduated from Mercy School of Nursing in Springfield, MA prior to her enlistment as a Navy nurse during World War II, serving on the USS Samaritan Hospital ship in the Pacific Theatre.

While busy raising her family, Mary returned to the nursing profession at Providence Hospital, Holyoke, MA. Upon retirement in 1984, Mary and Bob relocated to Port Charlotte, FL aka Paradise. She volunteered her time and nursing skills to many charitable organizations in the community, including St. Vincent De Paul food pantry and food voucher programs, the Cultural Center Blood Pressure Clinic, the Womenʼs Marine Corp League of Charlotte County and Toys for Tots. Mary enjoyed her retirement years and

the abundance of friends who treasured her friendship, easy laughter and caring spirit.

Mary will be sadly missed by her family: her twin sister; Bernardine N. Miller, her children; Canice McCurdy, Margaret Quatrano and

her husband Mark of Somers, CT; Jeanette Jez and her husband Christopher; Bernice Shedrick and her husband David, of Chicopee, MA; Robert A. McCurdy and his wife Virginia of Myrtle Beach, SC; Mary McCurdy and Rob Williams of Springfield, MA; Cecilia McCann and her husband Nicholas of Port Charlotte, FL with whom she lived. She also leaves five grandchildren Christopher and Robert McCurdy, Angelo and Nicola Quatrano and Kyle Shedrick. She also leaves behind her four-legged best buddies, Butchy, Pippy, Peanut, Pumpkin and Shelli. Besides her husband she was predeceased by a daughter Virginia House and a sister Natalie Robbins.

A memorial mass for Mary Ellen McCurdy will be 10:00 AM on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 held at St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, with a military service to follow at the Royal Palm Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family has asked for donations to be made toward these charities, which meant so much to Mary Ellen McCurdy: American Breast Cancer Foundation 1220 B East Joppa Rd. Suite 332. Baltimore, MD 21286; Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172; St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 21505 Augusta Ave, Port Charlotte, FL 33952. Arrangements made by the Kays, Ponger and Uselton Funeral Homes. Please visit the online tribute to Mary Ellen McCurdy at www.kays-ponger.com