Obituaries were reported for Francis Ferrara, 99, of Attleboro, and Edna Curran, 77, of Attleboro.

Francis Ferrara, 99

ATTLEBORO - Francis Joseph Ferrara, 99, passed away early Friday morning, Oct. 3, 2008.

He was born in Attleboro and aside from a stint as a technical sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, when he was sent to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, he lived in Attleboro his entire life.

Frank was well known in the city for his part in jewelry manufacturing and as the owner of the former Speedway Speedwash. He was several times commander of the American Legion Post 20, organized the Attleboro Post's Boys and Girls State Program for many years and remained active in the Legion as a service officer until the late 1990s.

As a public service, Frank organized the city's parades and Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks for many years and was always easy to find among the Fourth of July crowds in Capron Park during the 1950s and 1960s because of his amazing yellow Hawaiian shirt amidst a sea of white-shirted men. He was active in city politics and served as a fire commissioner under the late Mayor Kai Shang.

After retirement, Frank grew a huge number of tomatoes in his small back yard, which he delivered by the box load to his friends and neighbors.

Frank was a widower. His beloved wife, Thelma Eunice (White) Ferrara, died in 1997. He leaves behind a son, Robert, of Mystic, Conn.; and three daughters: Libie Alone Leonard of Pawtucket, and Mary Ferrara and Patricia Ferrara, both of Attleboro. He is also survived by a brother, John, of Attleboro and a sister, Elizabeth, of Norton. Frank had five grandchildren and at last count, 12 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours on Monday, Oct. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro. A funeral will be conducted on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 9 a.m. from the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden St., Attleboro celebrated by the Rev. John Raposo and the Rev. Michael Giniatelli. Mr. Ferrara will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife with full military honors in St. John's Cemetery, West Street, Attleboro.

Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Agency of Attleboro, 10 Emory Street, Attleboro, MA 02703, whose members have been very kind and helpful to Frank in his last months.

An online guest book for family and friends to express condolences and additional information may be found at: www.duffy-poule.com.

Edna Curran, 77

ATTLEBORO - Edna M. ( Roberts) Curran, 77, of Castle Road, Attleboro, died Friday, Oct. 3, 2008 at the Lifecare Center of Attleboro. She was the wife of Robert L. Curran Sr., to whom she was married for over 55 years.

She was born in Pawtucket, a daughter of the late John A. & Ida May ( Childs) Roberts. Edna was a homemaker.

She has lived the last four years in Attleboro, coming from Pawtucket where she lived most of her life.

She had made bed dolls for family and friends, was an avid water color painter, and loved playing bingo.

Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons, Robert L. and his wife Renay Curran of Harrisville, R.I., and John A. Curran and his fiance Patricia Demers of Pawtucket; four daughters: Deborah A. Collins of Pawtucket, Judith Martinez of Central Falls, R.I., Nancy Luszcz of Providence, and Linda Goyette of Pawtucket; a brother, William Roberts of Pawtucket; a sister, Irene Shirley of Pawtucket; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Albert Roberts.

Her funeral service will be held Monday, Oct. 6 at noon in the Foley-Hathaway Funeral Home, 126 South Main St., Attleboro. Burial will follow in Newell Burying Ground, Attleboro. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Calling hours are Monday morning from 10 a.m. to noon.

To Light A Candle, for Memorial Register, and facility directions, go to www.hathawayfunerals.com or call 508-222-0498.