Wolcott- Mrs. Frances (Byrnes) Culver, 78, passed away on Saturday, June 27, at Wolcott View Manor. She was the widow of Philip G. Culver, former Wolcott Fire Marshal. Fran was born February 1, 1937 in Waterbury, daughter of the late Francis and Mary (Mikalunas) Byrnes. She was a graduate of Russell Elementary School and Crosby High School, class of 1954 and had attended St. Joseph College in West Hartford. She had been employed at the main office of the Chase Brass and Copper Company, and was an insurance agent with the Hathaway and Ross Insurance Agency in Wolcott and at the Litchfield Insurance Group in Waterbury until her retirement. Fran also was the secretary to the Wolcott Fire Marshal for 28 years. She was an extremely active member of the Wolcott community and had served the following: past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Wolcott Volunteer Fire Department Company # 2; charter member and past president of the Junior Womens Club of Wolcott; chairperson of the establishment of the toddler playground in Peterson Park in 1973; co-founder of the Wolcott Bread Basket for the Handicapped and past member of the board of directors of the former Wolcott Organization for Retarded Citizens; co-founder, charter member, past president and member of the board of directors of the Farmingbury Womans Club of Wolcott; chairperson of the establishment of the gazebo on the green in 1998, donated by the Farmingbury Womans Club; member of the Wolcott Commission for Individuals With Special Needs since 1978 and chairperson for 17 years; chairperson of the Wolcott Special Games for the Disabled for 21 years; member of the board of directors of the Cedar Lake Owners Association for 18 years; member of Les Ruby Belles of Wolcott - local branch of the National Red Hat Society and was a communicant of St. Maria Goretti Church. Fran has also been the recipient of many awards over the years, including, the Junior Womens Clubs "Roseann Barratt Volunteer Woman of the Year in 1993; received honorary membership in the National Junior Honor Society/Christa McAuliffe Chapter from Alcott Middle School for outstanding leadership and service to the community in 1995, along with her late husband; recipient of the Nicholas DAgostino Humanitarian Award from the Wolcott Circle of Sports in 1998; recipient of an Outstanding Volunteer Award from former Mayor DeNegris and the Commission for the Handicapped in 2001 for work with the special games; received a Community Citizen Award for community service from the Wolcott Grange # 173 in 2002 and received a Public Service Award from former Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz, for service to the community in 2002. Fran is survived by her son; Michael Francis Culver of Wolcott; three daughters, Kathleen Small and her husband Scott of Bristol, Christine Keane and her husband Michael of Wolcott and Maureen Andrade and her husband James of Wolcott; her grandchildren, Katherine Hannah Keane, Seamus Patrick Culver Keane and Kyle Philip Small; two sisters-in-law, Jean Culver and Doris Culver; her God Children, Kelly Corvo Flynn and Debbie Sparso and many nieces and nephews including her special niece Roberta Gentile and her God Son and cousin Robert Nardi. She was predeceased by her son, Mark Joseph Culver. On behalf of their Mother the family would like to thank Dr. Edmund F. Caporaso for the loving care and devotion he extended to Fran during 30 plus years and for always being there for her and also like to remember her dear friend Linda Cobb who spent many years working along her side, helping in the garden, swimming and accompanying her on those great Chinese luncheons. Arrangements: Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, June 30, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Woodtick Memorial 420 Woodtick Rd. Wolcott. A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, July 1, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Maria Goretti Church. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Waterbury. Memorial contributions may be made to the Phil and Fran Culver Memorial Scholarship C/O Patty Deane, TD Bank 826 Wolcott Rd. Wolcott, CT 06716.

Service Information Cemetery Calvary Cemetery 2324 East Main Street Waterbury, CT --> Visitation Tuesday June 30, 2015 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM 420 Woodtick Rd. Wolcott, CT 06716 --> Service Wednesday July 1, 2015 10:00 AM St. Maria Goretti Church 1300 Woodtick Rd. Wolcott, CT 06716 -->