Fay E. Curtis

Fay E. Curtis, 71, of Peabody, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025, at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. She was the beloved wife of the late John D. Curtis, with whom she shared 45 years of marriage.

Born in Salem, Massachusetts, on January 26, 1954, Fay was the daughter of the late Ralph H. and Agnes M. Hersey. She was raised in Salem and later moved to Gardiner, Maine, where she spent much of her childhood. Fay and John settled in Peabody, where they lived for over 40 years.

Fay earned her Master’s degree in Nursing and cherished her career as a nurse. She dedicated her professional life to caring for others and served in numerous leadership roles at several local hospitals, including Director of Nursing, Chief Nursing Officer, and most recently Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Clinical Informatics and Clinical Operations at Beverly Hospital, where she worked until her retirement in 2023. Fay was deeply respected and well-loved throughout the healthcare community, known for her compassion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to her patients and staff. Her colleagues became lifelong friends, and she always surrounded herself with kindness and warmth.

Fay will be remembered most for her sense of humor, thoughtfulness, and, above all, her kindness. She loved her family more than anything, and the presence of her grandchildren brought her immense joy—her face lighting up even in her final days. Fay’s life and career left a lasting impact on healthcare and on all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Fay is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Henderson, and her husband, Steve Dickinson, of Franklin, MA; her grandchildren, Pierce and Halley Henderson and Colin Canelli; her sisters-in-law, Jean Mizer of Reading, MA and June Wall of Knoxville, Tennessee; her beloved cousins, Rona and Ken Horne; her childhood best friend Julie Crosby and her husband Tom; many cherished nieces and nephews; and an extraordinary group of close friends who meant the world to her. Fay and Kim were deeply grateful for the unwavering support of her niece, Karen Caron, and best friend, Janice Stafford, whose love and care undoubtedly made the last few years more manageable.

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, January 24th, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at C.R. Lyons and Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St, Danvers. Graveside services will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fay’s name to support the School of Nursing at Salem State University, where she received her Undergraduate and Master’s in Nursing Administration degrees. https://participate.salemstate.edu/tribute. Online directions and condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com