Louise DeWolfe Curtze

Louise DeWolfe Vicary Curtze Louise De Wolfe Vicary Curtze, age 90, of Millcreek, died peacefully Sunday, April 2, 2006 at her residence surrounded by her loving family and devoted caretakers. She was born in Erie on December 14, 1915, daughter of the late Arthur C. and Mary Wilmarth Vicary. She graduated from The Dwight School in Englewood, N.J. in 1936 and the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y. in 1940 with a bachelor’s degree in music. Mrs. Curtze was a choral music teacher for the Rumson Country Day School (grades K through 8) in Rumson, N.J. from 1940 to 1945. She then married career naval officer Charles August Curtze January 12, 1945. Since her return to Erie in 1968, she was a member of Wayside Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon and elder and sang in the church choir for 20 years. She was a member of the Tuesday Morning Music Club, the Carrie T. Watson Garden Club where she served on and chaired the Environmental Concerns Committee, and was a member of the League of Women Voters. She served as a board member of Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center for six years, was a member of the Mercyhurst College Carpe` Diem Society, and a leader of the Erie Area Northfield Interdenominational Christian Conference for Girls and Women. She was an activist and demonstrator for peace and the environment, race relations, civil rights, a woman’s right to choose and animal welfare. She was an avid supporter of the Erie Philharmonic, The Community Country Day School, and Asbury Woods. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, James Wilmarth Vicary and his wife Margharita Curtze Vicary. Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Rear Admiral Charles A. Curtze, USN Retired; two sons, Arthur J. Curtze and his wife Jennifer Loveland-Curtze of State College, Pa.; Edwin Johannes Curtze and his wife Patricia M. Curtze of Erie; four grandchildren, Joshua D. Curtze and his wife Jennifer, Jessica L. Curtze, Rachel E. Curtze, all of Erie, and Alexander Charles Curtze of State College, Pa.; two great grandchildren, Tristen and Raegan Curtze; two nephews, Charles Curtze Vicary and his wife Willow of Scottsdale, Ariz. and Thomas Cornish Vicary and his wife Cheryl of Erie; a niece Carolyn Vicary Emerson of Mineral, Va.; numerous great nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and step-greatgrandchildren. Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home, 602 West 10th Street on Friday, April 7 from 5:30 p.m. until the time of service at 7:00 p.m. Interment in Erie Cemetery. Send flowers and condolences at www.burtonfuneralhome.com. Sign the guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits.