Francis G. "Frank" Droney

Francis G. "Frank" Droney, 98, of West Hartford, beloved husband of the late Veronica Curtin Droney, passed away at home on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Frank was born in Bellharbour, County Clare, Ireland on March 31, 1927, to the late James and Mary Ann Droney. After immigrating to the United States in 1948, he proudly enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry and served as a marksman even while not yet having received his American citizenship. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge for his bravery during the Korean War.
Once leaving the military, he served the City of Hartford as a Firefighter for 33 years, earning the Medal of Valor for rescuing an elderly couple from their burning home. He was known for his bravery displayed at the 1961 Hartford Hospital fire and the Cathedral of St. Joseph fire in 1956.
A proud Irish immigrant and U.S. Citizen, Frank was a life member of the Irish American Home Society and participated in local Irish set dancing and ceili programs as well as the Hartford Gaelic Athletic Association in his younger years. He was also an active supporter of cultural organizations like Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann. His most recent achievement was being selected as the Grand Marshal for the 2025 Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Frank is survived by his daughter Debra Curtiss, her husband Brian, and her children, his beloved grandchildren, Chelsea and Tyler. He is also survived by countless cousins, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews. Alongside his wife, he was predeceased by his brothers Christopher, James, John, and Patrick Droney. The family appreciates and wishes to thank the many people who by either phone, mail, or visiting made Frank feel very much loved the past several weeks. It was also an opportunity for him to express his love to them.
Friends and relatives are invited to call on the Droney family on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Road, Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Frank's life will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Church of St. Peter Claver, 47 Pleasant Drive, West Hartford. All attendees are asked to meet directly at church. Burial will follow in Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Frank's memory to the Hartford Fire Department Emerald Society, P.O. Box 340416, Hartford, CT 06114 or to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, 4601 Forbes Blvd. – Suite #130, Lanham, MD 20706. For more information or to leave a condolence, please visit FarleySullivan.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Francis G. "Frank", please visit our floral store.