Vilma Curzi, 88, formally from Clifton Park, passed
away January 19, 2021 after a long illness. She was one of ten children and in what was to become an inspiring story, left her home and family and came to this country from Lima, Perú in 1960. She went to night school to learn English and subsequently earned an Associates Degree at Schenectady County Community College and a Bachelors degree and two Masters Degrees from SUNY Albany. She worked for the Singer Company in both Perú and New York City including at the World’s Fair in 1964. After starting a family in Scotia, NY, and earning her degrees, she worked for 16 years at Mt. MacGregor Correctional Facility in Wilton, NY teaching English as a second language and administering High School equivalency degrees.
She was extremely passionate about education and would help anyone she met that wanted to go to school or learn Spanish. She had two well honed crafts which included music specifically the accordion and anything else that included using her hands. She could always be found with an apron on in the kitchen cooking soup (her specialty) meatballs and cakes. Nobody left her home without a meal whether they were hungry or not. Her door was always open to anyone having people stay at her home for a day or weeks. Her lasting legacy was her generosity; a trait passed down by her mother and continued with her children and grandchildren. She always taught them to not only take care of themselves but to take care of their neighbors.
Vilma is predeceased by her husband, Leonard Curzi to whom she was married to 46 years. Also left behind are her son Gary Curzi (Terri) and daughter Carol Karpinski (Peter) often referred to as her second son. Most importantly, left behind was her pride and joy, her granddaughter, Marisa Karpinski and grandsons Luke, Jonas and Blake Karpinski and Ethan Curzi.
At the request of the family funeral services are
private.