CURRY, Charles Leonard ‘Chuck’
Charles Leonard ‘Chuck’ Curry, 72, of Antigonish passed away on September 24, 2017, in Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Glace Bay, he was a son of the late Charles Leo and Mary (McLaughlin) Curry.
On May 1, 1966, Chuck and his brother, Frank, opened the doors of Curry’s Funeral Home on Church Street which they operated alongside the ambulance service started three years earlier. The funeral home would be renamed Curry Bros. Funeral Directors in 1970, and in 1994 they moved to their location on College Street. In 1997, his wife, Joanne, purchased Frank’s shares of the company, and as C.L. Curry Funeral Services, they became partners in business as well as life.
The integrity of funeral service was of the utmost importance to Chuck. He had been President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Nova Scotia Licensed Embalmers and Funeral Directors Association; FSANS representative to the Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, where he was also Chairman 2010 - 2014; founding member, secretarytreasurer, and president of the Canadian Independent Group of Funeral Homes, Executive Adviser to the Funeral Service Association of Nova Scotia (FSANS); FSANS representative to the Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, where he was Chairman 2010 - 2014; Nova Scotia Representative to the Board of Directors of the Funeral Service Association of Canada for nine years; President of the Funeral Service Association of Canada and recipient of its prestigious Award of Merit in 2007.
Chuck was also a founding member of the Nova Scotia Ambulance Operators Association. He held numerous executive positions, including President, and was instrumental in their government negotiations. Chuck gave back to his community, and served as chairman of the building committee for the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), president of the Kinsmen Club of Canada; and for 10 years served as Chairman of the Antigonish District School Board.
Chuck loved to retreat to his cottage in Halfway Cove, and Guysborough County had always held a special place in his heart. Chuck will forever be remembered for his sense of humour and his deep love of family. The lessons that he taught his children about loyalty, kindness, and respect will never be forgotten. He exemplified this not only in his own friendships, but also in how he welcomed his children’s friends into his home and heart. Chuck cared deeply about the families that he served, and he was so appreciative of the trust his community placed in him and dearly cherished the friendship and support he received.
He is survived by his wife and his partner, Joanne (Doyle); children, Patrick (Kimberley), Rosemary and Tom (Glynnis Stewart); his precious granddaughter, Aibhlinn Jennifer; sisters, Charmayne, Eileen and Florence Ann (Kevin) Peach, all of Glace Bay and Rosemary (Nick) Czifrik, Salem, New Hampshire; brothers, Michael (Jean), Glace Bay, Arthur (Anne), Antigonish, Joe (late Sandra), New Waterford, Frank, Leduc, Alberta and Ernie (Elizabeth), Antigonish; brother-in-law, Ed (Ginger) Murphy, Sydney; sisters-in-law, Cathy, Halifax and Cecelia, Stellarton, and 31 nieces and nephews, for whom he cared so much.
Predeceased by his sisters, Theresa Murphy and Sr. Marilyn Curry, CSM; brothers, Dr. Bill, Gerard and John in infancy; nephew, Bill Curry, and niece, Janice Peach.
Visitation will be held Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the building he built, C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College St., Antigonish. Funeral Mass will be held in St. Ninian Cathedral Friday at 11 a.m., Reverend Andrew Boyd presiding. Burial to follow in the parish cemetery.
In Memoriam, donations to the St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Time is Now! Campaign, the Antigonish Town and County Palliative Care Society, and Ladies Auxiliary of Guysborough Memorial Hospital, appreciated.
Online condolences: www. clcurry.com.