Jean E. Curtiss died peacefully at the age of 92, in her sleep early Sunday morning October 18, 2015 at her home of 66 years in Sheffield after a brief illness. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Exton she was born in Paris, France where they lived until the German invasion in 1940. The American family of five received visas to escape France into Spain, an hour before the invading army. Arriving aboard a refugee boat in the USA from Portugal they settled in Washington DC. There and later in Paris her father served as a Foreign Service officer. She graduated from the Saint Margaret's School in Waterbury Ct and Mount Vernon Junior College. She worked briefly before marriage at the American Mission in Paris. In 1949 she married Franklin Curtiss II, a lawyer and former selectman of Sheffield. They lived in North Carolina, New York and Paris before returning permanently to reside in Sheffield. She was an avid gardener and member of the Lenox Garden Club and Christ Church Guild. Franklin Curtiss II predeceased his wife in 2002. Their only son Franklin Curtiss III died tragically in a mountain climbing accident in 1970. The couple is survived by their three daughters. Mrs. James McDonald of Florence, MA, Lucie Curtiss of Santa Barbara, CA and Juliette Curtiss of Tarrytown, NY and three grandsons, Benjamin McDonald, Nicholas Curtiss-Rowlands and Graham Curtiss-Rowlands. The funeral will be held at the Christ Church Episcopal in Sheffield on Saturday October 24th at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations are requested in her name to Hospice of the Berkshires or to the Make a Wish Foundation through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to her family or sign the guestbook please go to www.finnertyandstevens.com
