Published May 29, 2020
MELROSE — Peter V. Curran, 92, of Melrose, died peacefully on May 25, 2020. Peter was born in Melrose on May 28, 1927 to Joseph V. and Selina (Hall) Curran. He was raised in Melrose and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, from there he went to work at Lawson’s Machinery in Melrose and then entered the United States Marine Corps serving in the Pacific and in China. Peter married the late Marilyn (McCann) Curran in 1951 and together they raised their five children in Melrose.
Peter found his calling when he joined the International Union of Operating Engineers in 1951. He became a skilled heavy equipment operator with a very good reputation throughout the region. Some of the many projects he worked on will be familiar: Rt. 495, The North Shore Shopping Center, the Plum Island Bridge to name a few. He worked for Drinkwater Excavation for 38 years, retiring in 1988. He then went to work alongside his sons in the tree service business until he was 86 years old; work which he loved.
Peter was always kind, generous and gracious to all. He liked nothing more, when his kids were small, gathering them and the many neighborhood children to throw popsicle parties on the front porch of his house on Crescent Ave. on a hot summer evening. He loved to see kids having fun. Peter was a sports fan and always enjoyed the Boston sports teams.
He enjoyed music and traveling to Washington, D.C., Canada, Florida, and Cape Cod. He liked wildlife and enjoyed watching and feeding birds and chipmunks up at “the pit.” He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and really enjoyed the simpler things in life. Most importantly, Peter loved his family above all else. He was happiest when he was surrounded by his loving family. He was a lifelong Catholic and kept a strong, quiet belief in God. He would often pray at night to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peter was the beloved husband of the late Marilyn D. (McCann) Curran. Loving father of Mary Ellen Tripp and her late husband Scott of Windham, Maine; Michael G. Curran of Amesbury, Joseph F. Curran and his wife Damie of Merrimac, Stephen W. Curran of Amesbury and the late Peter C. Curran and his wife Ashley of Boston. Cherished grandfather of Richard, Christine, Sydney, Joseph, John and Damine. Great-grandfather of Camryn, Gianna, Chatham, Gabriella and Joseph. Caring brother of Paul Curran of Malden, Al Mundo of Marblehead, Mary Ellen Begonis of Reading and the late Charles Curran, Alice Foye, Bernard Curran, James Curran, William Mundo and Selina Mundo. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105. Due to the current public health crisis, funeral services will be private. Arrangements by the Gately Funeral Home, Melrose. For obituary and to sign online condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
