Obituary of Bertha H. Curley

Bertha "Becky" Tuulikki ["goddess of the wind"] Wilhelmina Hakola Curley, 99, died on Wednesday, August 9, in Cohoes, NY. She was born to Finnish immigrants in Virginia, MN, on Christmas Eve, 1917. Her father, Waino Hakola, died in a mining accident when Becky was 7. Her mother, Elsa, supported Becky and her brother, Eugene, by opening a successful sewing and tailoring business. Becky spoke Finnish at home and remained bilingual her whole life. She grew up Chisolm, MN and played the violin in the Chisholm High School orchestra. Becky went to the Michael Reese Nursing School in Chicago and there met her future husband, Dwight, who operated the elevator in her dorm while he was in school. They were married on Valentine's Day, 1942 in Richford, VT. After living for 20 years in the greater Los Angeles area, Dwight's job took them to Denver, CO and finally Burlington, VT in 1965. Becky "retired" from nursing to raise her children, but she returned to her profession in the 1970s at the Medical Center Hospital of VT, where she worked for 20 years. She was a congregant at St. Paul's Cathedral in Burlington. Becky was an avid gardener, a very talented seamstress, and enjoyed volunteering her time with Meals on Wheels and at St. Paul's Cathedral. In retirement, Becky and Dwight enjoyed travelling and took trips to Europe, Finland, Egypt, Fiji, Singapore, New Zealand, and Myanmar. She lived independently until age 90, when in 2007, she moved to Niskayuna, NY to be closer to her daughters. Becky is survived by her three children, Alison Curley (Nick Tishler) of Niskayuna, NY; Barbara Pidgeon of Glenville, NY; and Bruce Curley (Deanna) of San Jose, CA; her seven grandchildren, Sarah Tishler of New York, NY; Rebecca Tishler of Northampton, MA; Jon Pidgeon of Denver, CO; Scott Pidgeon of Ballston Spa, NY; Matt Pidgeon of Bedford, NH; Debbie Curley Catania of Coarsegold, CA; Cinda Curley of San Mateo, CA; as well as nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and -nephews, and great-grandchildren. Calling hours are Saturday, August 12 from 4-7 PM at Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union Street, Schenectady, NY, 12309. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Becky's memory to the Chisholm Public Library, 300 West Lake Street Chisholm, MN 55719.