Zita S. (Stoddart) Curry

Beloved by many, Zita Stoddart Curry passed away on December 14, 2022, after a short and courageous battle with cancer at age 85.   She was surrounded by her children and her husband, Gerald, who never left her side.

Zita was born in Brooklyn, daughter of the late Zita Hawkins and Andrew Stoddart.  Zita and her family moved to Roosevelt, NY when she was a young child, attending Baldwin Schools, and graduating from Baldwin Senior High School (‘54) and St. Joseph’s College for Women in Brooklyn, (‘58).  There she met her most loyal friends and was an active alumnae.  Zita married the love of her life, Gerry, on August 25, 1962 at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church.  Gerry saw her there at a Holy Thursday Mass, and fell immediately for her when they were seniors in high school. They remained local and active in their church and raised their five wonderful children in Freeport, NY.

Zita studied child development and was a teacher early on in her career teaching at Baldwin Harbor Elementary school, before raising her own family. Her love of children and teaching brought her back to her career once her family was grown. She spent many years at Brookside Elementary School, Baldwin, NY, teaching reading and computers in the reading center.  Always a dedicated teacher, Zita enjoyed helping her grandchildren learn to read and had a deep knowledge of the best children's books and authors.

Zita was adored by her husband of more than 60 years, Gerald Thomas Curry. Together they raised: Gerald (MarySue) Curry, Patricia (John) Donovan, John (Caroline) Curry, Robert Curry, and Jane (Graham) Michener. Zita is a loving grandmother to seventeen: Andrew, Michael, Sean, Brendan, Timmy, Devin, Matthew, Jack, Kevin, Juliette, Jack, Will, Ryan, Graham, Charlotte, Ana and Phoebe. She is survived by her dear and devoted sisters Elizabeth (late Joseph) Darcy and Jean Stoddart, her sister-in-law Kathy (Curry) and John Alexander and is a loving aunt to many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Most of all Zita loved the beach where she spent 52 years at Point Lookout Beach Club. She and Gerry made many happy memories with their growing family and developed lifelong friends. She truly loved family gatherings, beach barbecues, watching the kids learn to body surf the waves and especially, all the grandchildren playing by the cabana.  The beach was truly her happy place.

In addition to her love of family, Zita was known for her wicked sense of humor, her love of shopping for stylish clothes, puttering in her garden, and her beautiful home. Zita hosted wedding anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, holidays, graduations, and many dinner parties with friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated  on December 29, 2022 at 3 pm at St Thomas Aquinas Church, Post Road, Fairfield, CT, 06824.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Zita’s favorite charity, donations may be made to  St Jude Children's Research Hospital