Obituary of Phyllis J. Curiale

Phyllis Natale Curiale, age 87, of Virginia, beloved wife of the late Salvatore B. Curiale, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 19, 2015. Born on November 7, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Theresa D'Ambrosi Natale. A graduate of St. Vincent's School of Nursing she received her R.N. degree in 1948, a Bachelor's Degree in Science from the University of Bridgeport in 1977, a Master's Degree in Biology and Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport in 1981. She was a School Nurse for Bassick High School, a former coordinator of the Harding High School Career Health Magnate Program, a Public Health Nurse, and a Charge Nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital. She was the recipient of the Governor's Award for Outstanding School/Community Involvement in 1977, 1978, 1984 and 1984 the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Connecticut Alumnae Association in 1985 and1986, Bassick High School's first Teacher of the Year Award, and the Woman of Substance Award in 1996. Phyllis was an outstanding role model to all whose lives she touched. Her love and devotion to her family were abundant. Her life-long dream was to be a Nurse; through her selfless dedication to and love of Nursing, she strove to encourage her students to enter the Nursing field in any one of its many facets. Both in her professional and personal lives she stressed community involvement, compassion, and empathy toward others and that her students had no limits to what they could achieve. She will be sorely missed by all. Survivors include her daughter, Adeline Curiale Medeiros and son-in-law, Herbert J. Medeiros of Virginia and son, Joseph Curiale of California. Funeral services will take place on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull, and at 10:00 a.m. in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Fairfield for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Relatives and friends may call on Sunday from 1-5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Insight Memory Care Center, 3953 Pender Dr., Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030.