Longtime Durham Resident, Church Founder Kathleen Marjorie Goddard Curtis Passes Away at 92

Kathleen Marjorie Goddard Curtis, 92, of Durham, passed away with her loving family at her bedside during a glorious sunrise on October 2, 2012.

She was born Dec. 21, 1919 in Barbados, BWI and arrived in the U.S. through Ellis Island, aged 2, and grew up in New York City. She was the beloved daughter of the late James and Genevieve (Clarke) Goddard. She graduated from George Washington High School in 1938 where she met her high school sweetheart, Gregory G. Curtis, whom she married in 1942. Their marriage lasted for almost 60 years before her husband's passing in 2002. Kathleen worked for Kellogg & Co. in Times Square, New York City.

Her husband's World War II Army service in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of the Remagen Bridge, separated them for three years. After the war, they first moved to Iowa and later to Durham, CT in 1947, where they lived on Oak Terrace for many years.

Kathleen, affectionately known as Sis and Nana, worked many years at Stonegate School, Korn School and Notre Dame Rectory as a secretary; and was a reporter for the Hartford Courant and the Middletown Press. She was a founding member of Notre Dame Church, erected in 1955. She stood proudly at her husband's side as he served as First Selectman of Durham, 1976-77.

Kathleen leaves four children, Greg and Virginia Curtis of Columbia, MD; Diane and Robert Moore, Doreen and Rob Raney and Brian and Eileen Curtis, all of Durham. Her legacy has grown to 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. All 12 grandchildren were fortunate to visit with her a few days before her passing. Kathleen also leaves her brother, Arthur Goddard and his wife, Evelyn of Middletown, and many special nieces and nephews. Along with her husband and parents, she is predeceased by her sister, Monica Bellafiore and by her brother, James Goddard. Her family will remember the sunlight that streaked across her face the morning she passed away. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Oct. 5 at 1:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Church, 272 Main St., Durham followed by interment in Mica Hill Cemetery. Friends may call on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 5-7 p.m. at Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church St., Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathleen's memory to Connecticut Forest & Park Association, 16 Meriden Rd., Rockfall, CT 06481 or CTWoodlands.org. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.