Denise F. Curkan

Denise Françoise Curkan of Branford passed away on October 9, 2023, surrounded by the love of her family.

She was born in 1927 in Liège, Belgium to Jean Nöel Charlier and Henriette (Leboulle) Charlier. She married her husband Michael Curkan in 1948 and moved to the United States in 1956. Even though Denise was not Ukrainian by nationality, she embraced her husband’s Ukrainian heritage and culture. She enjoyed making Ukrainian dishes for him, and  excelled in French and American cuisine.

She was a voracious reader, and she loved to knit. Her beautiful knitted creations, which included her famous booties known as “poofs,” were given to many friends over the years, as well as donated to local charities.

Denise enjoyed her years working for the Little Sisters of the Poor in New Haven. She loved her Catholic faith and had a special devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. She looked forward to watching the daily Mass on EWTN, followed by the Chaplet of Mercy.

Survived by her loving children, Marie Flanagan, PhD., of Ocala Florida; Alix Elkin (Steve) of Madison; and Jacqueline Herbert of East Haven. She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Michael and Charles Herbert, and Carley (Elizabeth) and Casey Elkin, to whom she was affectionately known as “Grandmère.”

She was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Michael Curkan, and by her sons-in-law Michael Flanagan and Michael Herbert.

Our family would like to thank her devoted caregivers at Grimes Rehabilitation Center

Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Liturgy at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 569 George St., New Haven, on Thursday morning, October 12, at 10:00 a.m. There will be no calling hours. Interment will follow at St. Lawrence cemetery, West Haven, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Little Sisters of the Poor in Enfield, CT in memory of Denise Curkan.

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