Sharon L. Curran

Ms. Sharon L. Curran,79, died peacefully on December 11, 2022 at Spring Hill Rehabilitation Center in Livingston, NJ.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Ave., Verona from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 2:30 pm.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Ms. Curran grew up there and was married. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School with the Class of 1960 and attended Hunter College. She moved to Nutley, NJ shortly after the birth of her first child. She lived also in Bloomfield and Montclair, before moving to West Orange about 10 years ago.

After moving to NJ, she was very involved with the Nutley Little Theatre and directed and choreographed several Parks and Recreation musical performances. Throughout her life she continued to perform and direct others in local and regional theatre.

Ms. Curran co-founded Showpeople, an entertainment company that provided singing telegrams and other musical entertainment. After leaving that company, she joined the Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHANJ), serving as the Director of the Project Return and Mental Health Players. Throughout her tenure she helped to dispel myths about mental illness, working with schools, private companies and law enforcement agencies. Her warmth and genuine caring for others made every person she interacted with feel special and appreciated.

Ms. Curran was predeceased by her parents, James P. Curran and Lee (nee Lazarus) Curran. She is survived by her daughters, Deborah Wheelock (Charles) and Patricia Bankuti (Ernest); cherished grandchildren, Eric Bankuti, Henry Wheelock, George Wheelock and Ryan Bankuti; and her brother, Melvin Shapiro.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to the Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHANJ), 673 Morris Ave. Suite 100, Springfield, NJ 07081 (www.mhanj.org) would be greatly appreciated. Include "In Memory of Sharon L. Curran" in the check memo and donor's name, address and phone number in a note with the check for acknowledgement, or mention her name if you prefer to donate online.

Condolences may be left at www.proutfuneralhome.com.