Patricia Curley

Belchertown- Patricia (DuComb) Curley, 77, passed into her eternal resting place July 22, 2024 with her beloved family at her side.  Patricia was the eldest of four children, born on November 18, 1946 in Ware, MA to the late George and Catherine (Ditto) DuComb.She was raised by loving parents and she was guided in life by her faith as a communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Patricia had gone on several pilgrimages including St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France, The Holy Land in Israel and World Family Day in Philadelphia, PA with Pope Francis.When on a backpacking holiday throughout Europe, she met a young soldier by the name of Charles who became the love of her life for 51 years.  They married September 8, 1973.  Their love for each other carried them through years of shared interests and adventures.  She was especially proud to be a dedicated military spouse.  As a military spouse, she mentored other spouses new to the community. Her kindness and willingness to lend a helping hand to other military spouses created a lasting connection with many lifelong friends.Over a span of 22 years, Patricia and Charles visited many places to include Europe, Africa, Canada, Middle East and Mexico. Together they reached their goal of visiting all 50 Unites States, the 5 Great Lakes and many National Parks, all in their home country. As it reads in her favorite poem, “Miles to go Before I Sleep”, Patricia traveled many miles in her lifetime and now is time for her to sleep. Patricia earned her degree in Business at Becker College and her career began at John Hancock in Boston, MA. She had an extensive career history that included employment as a registrar for the Boston University Overseas Master’s Program in Heidelberg, Germany, working in Departments of Planning and Logistics while holding a Security Clearance for the US Army during the Cold War in Worms, Germany, and working at the VA Medical Center in Augusta, GA as a part of a specialized team in Infection Control and Diseases where she was a Veterans Coordinator and Educator of HIV/AIDS, MRSA and Hepatitis.  She also attended the CDC in Atlanta, GA with certification in surveillance tracking in Infectious Disease and Control. During this time, Patricia was also the coordinator for the Homeless Veterans yearly stand down and was instrumental in developing programs to raise money for the Charlie Norwood Fisher House in Augusta, GA. Patricia retired in 2011.After retirement, she and her husband moved to Belchertown where she found a welcoming place in the community. Patricia loved her home there and was very social, having many dear friends. She became an activities coordinator where she initiated many community activities such as raising money for Shriners Children’s Hospital as a member of the Shivering Shamrocks, plunging the Connecticut River around each St. Patrick’s Day. She also initiated Wreaths Across America in her community. She navigated life with unparallel patriotism, spirit and kindness.  She was an amazing, sweet, kind, truly loving soul who was full of life, laughter, optimism and had a heart as big as the world. She will be missed and remembered by so many. She was a voracious reader, loved all of God’s animals big and small, enjoyed gardening, visiting the beach, staring up at a full moon, walking in the snow, traveling, enjoying lobster, attending family get-togethers, and was proud of her Irish heritage. Her most treasured moments were those spent with her grandchildren, whom she adored.  She was Amma to Finnegan, Elijah and Elowen Cullen. She leaves behind her devoted husband, Charles, whom she loved dearly; her daughter, Coleen Curley and her husband, Kevin Turner; her son, Joshua (Curley) Cullen, and his husband, Thomas Cullen; her DuComb brothers and their spouses: Anthony and Robin, Mark and Roberta and David and Phyllis; her 3 God children, James Bishop, Andrew DuComb and Eric DuComb. She also leaves several nieces, nephews and cousins. We were blessed to have you in our lives as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin and will love you for all eternity. She leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Visitation will be held Friday, July 26th at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home from 9:00am-11:00am. A Funeral Mass will follow at 12:00pm at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Palmer. Burial will immediately follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation or donating your time to Shriners Children’s Hospital at 516 Carew St. Springfield, MA or plant a tree in Patricia’s memory. In her honor, we ask you to do something nice for someone today.