Ellen F. "Fran" Curtin

Ellen Frances Curtin (Meehan) born May 31, 1931, died peacefully, with her family around her, on July 21st, 2024 at 93 years of age. Frances’ life embodied a story of strength, courage and resilience.  She powered these attributes with her love of life and her infectious laughter.  She was born in Point La Haye, St Mary’s Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. She was one of 8 children; 4 brothers, Augustus, Arthur, Andrew, and William Meehan, sisters, Bertha Goodwin, who pre-deceased Fran, and she is survived by her youngest 2 sisters, Genevieve Gibbons and Phyllis Miller. Her father, John Meehan, a fisherman died when Fran was young and her mother Alice Margaret Meehan (Lowe) was left to provide for their 8 children in the midst of a devastating global depression. At the age of 14, after completing 8th grade, Frances moved to St. John’s and worked in a boarding house for her room and board. She held many jobs in St Johns (including singing backup vocals for VOCM radio) but it was while working on the US Navy base in Argentia, Newfoundland, that Fran met her husband, James Francis Curtin, a handsome American Navy Chief who loved to dance and laugh as much as she did. They married April 5, 1954 and she became a Navy Wife, caring for their 2 children, Alexander “John” Curtin and Catherine M. Curtin-Miller. They were stationed in many places, Newfoundland, Canada; Memphis, Tennessee; San Diego, California, Bainbridge, Maryland, and eventually Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where Fran managed the purchase of their first home. A few years later, their youngest daughter, Patricia Goodkin (Curtin) was born. Fran worked as a waitress and hostess in her first decade in RI and particularly enjoyed her work at the Top of the Dock/Marina House in Wickford.

In the 70s, Fran worked at The Ladd School in Exeter, RI. She loved working with the patients, however, when the opportunity arose, she transferred to Sockanosset Training School in Cranston, RI.  Again, she enjoyed helping the boys and found the work fulfilling.  As one of the only female workers she soon developed the reputation for being the “small but mighty” Mrs. Curtin. She worked for the State of RI for the rest of her long career, retiring in 1988. Her husband Jim died 2 years later in 1990.

Fran was a natural athlete. An avid dancer, she won many awards for her and Jim’s fancy footwork. Later, her athletic interests turned to bowling and golfing in which she held numerous trophies. Fran was drawn to the sea all her life and purchased two boats that she would go on countless adventures in the nearby waters particularly to her favorite weekend vacation spot, Block Island. She was an active member of the Rhode Island Yacht Club for several years and enjoyed sailing in regattas.

Preferring warmer weather, she eventually became a “snowbird”, flying off to Florida for the winter months and bought her second home in Ft. Myers. There, she enjoyed the sandy beaches, collecting seashells, working in her garden, hanging out at the clubs, playing in card leagues, dancing to live music, golfing and going to Red Sox spring training games. Fran adored adventure and would travel extensively throughout her life, enjoying new places and always making new friends wherever she landed.

Her family in Newfoundland said that she was “The happiest girl in the whole USA.” Fran was a force of nature, adventurous, never afraid to work hard and try something new. She was fiercely independent and was able to live on her own well into her 80’s. She was blessed to live out her life in her home with her gardens and her family around her. She leaves behind her sisters Genevieve and Phyllis as well as her two daughters Catherine Curtin-Miller (husband Curtis W. Miller III) and Patricia Goodkin (husband Mark Goodkin) and Kathleen Curtin (wife of her pre-deceased son, Alexander John Curtin). She adored her, grandchildren Jon Paul, Joshua, Curtis, Kathleen, James, Matthew, Gregory, Edward, Oscar, Samantha and Sophia. She has 6 great grandchildren “so far.”

Funeral service Monday July 29th at Noon at the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. Burial will be private. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers please offer a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pg=fund&fr_id=1060&pxfid=897257