A Funeral Mass for Curtis Russell Woodcock, 78, will be celebrated on Saturday, December 19, 2009, in the Church of Saint Patrick, Watertown.

Mr. Woodcock, born on August 1, 1931 at Boston City Hospital, was one of 12 children of the late Pomell and Lillian (Lyons) Woodcock. He grew up in Jamaica Plain, graduated from Boston Trade High School, Franklin School of Engineering and Peterson School of Engineering. He then would further his education by attending Wentworth Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

After graduation he went on to serve in the US Navy as an engineer, assigned to a carrier and then submarines. After his naval service, Mr. Woodcock went to work for Maine Cabinetworks as a cabinetmaker. He later was employed by Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, as the Facility Manager, and his life's work/ vocation was to help kids that could not help themselves, and protect the safety and well being of the students at Perkins. He retired after 35 years of service.

He was admired by his family, friends and neighbors for his vast talents which included carpentry, plumbing, interior designing, sewing and cooking. He was an avid reader, fisherman and debater of current events among family and friends. Mr. Woodcock, a resident of Arlington for the 36 years, was a member of the American Legion Post 39 in Arlington and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 15022 of Massachusetts.

Curt died at home with his wife Marion, niece Debbie and brother-in-law John by his side on December 16, 2009, after a courageous 5 month battle with pancreatic cancer. This was not his first battle with cancer; in 2004, he won a battle with a rare sarcoma. The family would like to acknowledge the staff at Massachusetts General Senior Health and the MGH Center for Sarcoma and Connective Tissue Oncology, for providing outstanding and compassionate health care to him and support for our family over the last 5 years.

He was the beloved husband for 52 years of Marion T. (McHugh) Woodcock; dear brother in law of Elinor Sylvester of Cambridge, Margaret and her husband Michael O’Neill of VA, John McHugh and his wife Ellen of Sandwich; He also leaves several devoted and loving nieces and nephews: Debbie Sylvester of Malden, John and Tina McHugh of Needham, Marybeth and Tom Carlisle of Duxbury, Tracy and Mike Hewett of Duxbury, Meghan and Michael Grimaldi of Duxbury, Kathleen and David King of Florida.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:30 AM in the Church of St. Patrick, 212 Main St., Watertown. Interment will be in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Watertown. Calling hours will be in the MacDonald, Rockwell & MacDonald Funeral Home at 270 Main St., on Rte. 20, Watertown, on Saturday morning from 8:30 – 10 AM prior to the Mass. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.

Memorial contributions in Curt’s name may be made to St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1 Maquan St., Hanson, MA 02381.