Joan Anne Patricia Curis

Joan Anne Patricia (Meskill) Curis, a devoted wife and mother, a proud Irish Catholic woman whose faith guided her throughout her life, passed peacefully on October 15, 2021 at home having shared laughs, songs, advice, stories, and smiles with her devoted children and grandchildren. Joan was born in New York City on January 31, 1933, the fifth of eight children of Mary (Mame) and Daniel Meskill. Growing up in the Bronx, she took care of her father's chickens and delivered eggs off the back of her bike to neighbors and aunts. Joan attended Villa Maria Academy in the Bronx where she was known as “Joan Anne Meskill...a girl to like. She always arrived on her faithful bike.” She completed her nursing training at Misericordia Hospital, and then, at night, attended St. John’s University for a bachelor's degree. Her nursing career began at Lenox Hill Hospital. She went on to work at Metropolitan City Hospital and was Head Nurse of the pediatric Communicable Disease floor. She met her loving husband of 57 years, Francis (Frank) T. Curis at the hospital chapel. Their early days together were in San Antonio, Texas, then Columbia, South Carolina. Eventually, they settled in West Hartford, Connecticut, joining St. Timothy’s parish. Joan was happiest when surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her greatest gift to them was her faith and love. She lived an active lifestyle that included playing tennis, biking, and golf; volunteering for school boards and childhood literacy; and bringing communion to home-bound individuals of her parish community. Frank and Joan loved entertaining their friends and family. She cherished her close friends. There was always room at the table for one more. Many a college education plan was developed and sometimes applications had their i’s dotted and t’s crossed at Joan’s table. Joan and Frank set high standards and willingly made the sacrifices required to send all their children for Catholic education from kindergarten all the way through private universities. Joan loved laughing with her family, demonstrating her (basketball) right hook, singing in St. Timothy’s choir, cheering at her kids’ games, exercising in the pool, sharing summers in North Carolina, and spending time with friends and family. We will miss her telling us how to do what to do, and laughing at herself, and always being there for us when we needed her. Joan is survived by her children: Jim (Mary Margaret) of Durham, NC; Cathy of West Hartford, CT; Tom of New York, NY; Bill (Heather) of Cumming, GA; Tricia (Pat) Gerity of West Hartford, CT; Robert (Edlira) of Orange, CT; Maureen (Kurt) Vanscoy of Wilmington, NC; and Dan (Teri) of Southport, CT. She was loving grandmother to 14 grandchildren: Justin, Cole, Liam, Caitlin, Delia, Thomas, Kathleen, Sara, Robert, Emma, Reamon, Fiona, Kaitlyn, and Danielle. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Francis T. Curis (2017) her sister Mary (Mitchell), her brothers, Danny, Bill, Jim, and Robert. She is survived by her brothers, John and Larry Meskill, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 PM Wednesday, October 20. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of St. Timothy 225 King Phillip Drive, West Hartford 06117 on Thursday, October 21, at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow Mt. View Cemetery, Bloomfield. The mass will also be live streamed for those unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to St. Timothy’s School, 225 King Phillip Drive, West Hartford, or Doctors Without Borders. Directions and a link to live stream are available at: www.molloyfuneralhome.com.