Mark Anthony Curulla, 79, of Curwensville died Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at UPMC Shadyside Hospital after a lengthy illness. Born Oct. 19, 1934 in St. Marys, he was the son of Joseph and Mary Ceilla (Rossi) Curulla.
He attended schools at Dents Run, Benezette and Clearfield. He graduated from the Curwensville High School with high honors.
He also took accounting and paralegal courses at Scranton. He was a member of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church in Clearfield.
Mr. Curulla was an insurance consultant for Kemper and Lumberman Mutual Insurance Companies. He, along with his wife, Sara, owned and operated a small restaurant on Filbert Street in Curwensville between 1960 and 1963.
He started his railroad career with the Chesapeake & Ohio and CSX Transportation in 1952 at Bickford as a laborer and machine operator. He was promoted to production foreman and inspector working for the Buffalo and Pennsylvania Divisions.
He retired in October of 1998 after 36 years of service. He was a member of the AFL-CIO Union and was local chairman of lodges in DuBois, Punxsutawney and Indiana.
Between 1999 and 2003, he worked as an office manager for professional and student housing in State College.
Mr. Curulla was a member and past president of the Curwensville Borough Council. He was chairman of the Planning Commission and received “Councilman of the Year” honors in 2012. Mr. Curulla served more than 40 years on borough council.
He was a lifetime member of the Rescue Hose & Ladder Co. of Curwensville. He was a former member of the Curwensville L.O.O.M., the Clearfield Eagles and the former Curwensville S.O.I.
In 1953 in Clearfield, he wed the former Sara Rose Carfley, who survives, along with two sons, David Curulla and his wife, Karen of Clearfield and Joseph Curulla and his wife, Donnie of Roanoke, Va.
Also surviving are two grandsons, Daniel Donahue and his wife, Ashley and their children, Isabelle, Finnan and Parker, and Joseph Curulla and his wife, Jessie and their daughter, Charlotte of Virginia; two sisters, Virginia Chuba and her husband, Joe of State College and Gloria Averill of DuBois; and a niece, Laura and her son, Jai, a great-nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two grandchildren and four brothers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the St. Francis Roman Catholic Church in Clearfield, with the Rev. Father Brandon Kleckner as celebrant. Burial will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde.
Friends will be received from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc. Curwensville, and again from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Friday when the procession will depart for the church. Scripture Vigil Services will be conducted at 5:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
The family suggests contributions be made to either the American Cancer Society, 26 S. Second St., Clearfield, PA 16830 or the American Heart Association, 501 Howard Ave., Suite 101, Altoona, PA 16601.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chidboyfuneralhome.com.
The Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc. of Curwensville is in charge of the arrangements.