Mary Culverwell

DALTON -- Mary A. Culverwell, 72, of 119 Sunnyside Drive died yesterday at home after a long battle with cancer.

Born in Pittsfield on June 25, 1933, daughter of John and Florence Hickey Duquette, she was a 1951 graduate of the former Dalton High School. She also graduated from Berkshire Community College in 1976 with an associate degree in executive secretary arts and magna cum laude from the former North Adams State College in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Mrs. Culverwell was employed as a real estate broker by Coldwell Banker Realty from 1983 until her retirement in 1993. Before that, she worked for the late U.S. Rep. Silvio O. Conte and for General Electric Co. in the ordnance department.

She was a communicant of St. Agnes' Church and a former member of the Young Republicans Club in Springfield. She served as vice president of the Springfield Jaycees from 1964 to 1966 and was a volunteer at Wesson Memorial Hospital in Springfield during the 1970s.

She was an artist and gave private painting lessons. She also enjoyed sewing and knitting.

She leaves a son, Denis M. Culverwell of Rowley; two daughters, Mary Lou Gagne of Newport, R.I., and Teresa Shea of Essex; a brother, the Rev. Don Bosco Duquette of the Order of Capuchin Franciscans of Portland, Maine; two sisters, Anne Rosa of Greenfield and Kathleen Duquette Penna of Pittsfield; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two sons, Edward J. Culverwell and James M. Culverwell.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Mary A. Culverwell, 72, of Dalton, who died Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at home with her family by her side, will be Friday at 9:15 from DERY-FOLEY FUNERAL HOME in Dalton, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 at St. Agnes' Church concelebrated by her brother, the Rev. Don Bosco Duquette, OFMCAP, and the Rev. Christopher Malatesta, pastor of St. Agnes'. Burial will follow in the family lot in Ashuelot Cemetery. Calling hours will be tomorrow from 5 to 8 at the funeral home. She was predeceased by two sons, Edward J. Culverwell and James M. Culverwell, and by two brothers, Denis Duquette and James Duquette. Mary leaves seven grandchildren, Ross Culverwell, Patrick Mickel, Kelly and Patrick Shea, Brendan, Devin and Ryleemckay Culverwell; her daughter-in-law, Darcy Marcella Culverwell, and her son-in-law, Michael Gagne; her brother-in-law, Joe Penna; two sisters-in-law, Judy Duquette and Mary Jane Duquette, and her good friend, David MacArthur. Memorial donations may be made to the Joslin Clinic or to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, both in care of the funeral home, 890 Main St., Dalton, MA 01226. Mary was a talented artist and gave private painting lessons to her many loving students. She loved her birds, but her greatest love was her family.