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OBITUARY
Reverend Martin W. Curley |
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The Reverend Martin W. Curley who served as a priest for
nearly 50 years, died January 17, 2006 at the Broadlawn
Manor nursing home in Amityville after a long illness.
He was 76 years old.
One of five children of the late Edward A. and Margaret
Walsh Curley, Martin Walsh Curley was born in Brooklyn
and attended St. Mary Gate of Heaven School in Ozone
Park. He entered the Montfort Minor Seminary in Bay
Shore and completed his studies for the priesthood at
the DeMontfort Seminary in Litchfield, Connecticut. He
also earned a Master of Science degree in Education in
1963 and a Master of Arts degree in History in 1967 from
St. John’s University in Queens.
He was ordained a priest for the Montfort Fathers in
Litchfield, Connecticut by Archbishop Henry O’Brien on
February 25, 1956. Father Curley served the Montfort
Fathers as an Assistant Novice Master, a professor at
the seminary in Bay Shore and as Director of Studies for
the Montfort Fathers in Ozone Park.
In 1968, he started working for the Diocese of Rockville
Centre as an associate pastor at the Church of Ss.
Philip and James in Saint James. Four years later he was
transferred to the parish of St. Aloysius in Great Neck
where he also served as an associate pastor. During his
10 years there, he worked with several parish groups,
including the Rosary Society, Holy Name Society and CYO.
He also served as chaplain of the Vigilant Fire
Department. Father Curley was incardinated and became a
priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre in 1972.
In 1982, Father Curley was named pastor of the Church of
St. Andrew in Sag Harbor. He helped celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the parish school in 1983 which became a
regional school in 1992 and is currently known as Stella
Maris.
In 1984, Father Curley became the temporary
administrator for the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus
in Woodbury. A year later he was transferred to the
Parish of St. Boniface in Elmont where he would serve as
an associate pastor for five years. Father Curley was
named an associate pastor at St. Rose of Lima Church in
Massapequa in 1990, and five years later he was
transferred to St. Gertrude’s parish in Bayville where
he served in the same capacity. He retired in 1999 and
moved to the Broadlawn Manor Nursing home in 2001.
A wake for Father Curley will be held at the Leo F.
Kearns Funeral Home in North Richmond Hill on Thursday,
January 19 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m.
Bishop William Murphy will preside at the Funeral Mass
on Friday, January 20 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of St.
Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park. The homilist will be
the Reverend Gerald Fitzsimmons, S.M.M. Burial will
follow at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.
Father Curley is survived by two sisters, Mae Curley and
Rosemary Fenton as well as nieces and nephews. He was
predeceased by his brother, the Reverend J. Robert
Curley, S.M.M.
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About The Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was formed in 1957 and
covers 1,222 square miles in Nassau and Suffolk
Counties. The diocese serves approximately 1.4 million
Catholics (total population in both counties is
approximately 3.3 million). There are 134 parishes in
115 towns. Last year over 20,000 baptisms, 18,000
confirmations, 20,000 first communions and 5,000
marriages took place in the diocese. There are 2,137
students in Catholic kindergarten, 23,825 in primary or
elementary school, 12,628 in secondary school and 3,300
in higher institutions. There are 76 Catholic elementary
and high schools and one Catholic college in the
diocese. Catholic Health Services of Long Island
consists of five hospitals, three nursing homes, two
home-care agencies, two senior housing complexes, a
community-based home for those with special needs and a
hospice. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more
than 68,000 individuals who are poor, vulnerable and
disadvantaged on Long Island. For more information,
visit www.drvc.org.
For more information:
Sean P. Dolan
sdolan@drvc.org
516-678-5800, ext. 625
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