Joette P. Delia Curiano

Joette was born May 2, 1955 in Huntington, Long Island, the eldest daughter of Pat and Emma Delia. To those who knew her well, she was a devoted and caring friend. To her family, she was a loving daughter, sister, mother and wife. She was a dedicated teacher and health educator.

She was blessed to find the love of her life in her husband, Charles ("Chuck") Curiano, who was her best friend and with whom she created a beautiful life. Among her greatest achievements were her children, Jennifer and Matthew. Her role as a mother is one her greatest legacies. Her children are extraordinary young adults who have acquired their mother's love of music, nature, animals, and a moral sense of what is right and just.

She was educated on Long Island, attended and graduated from Smithtown High School East, and received her bachelor's degree in nursing from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Joette earned a master's degree in nursing from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

She established a well-distinguished career of more than 25 years as a nurse, nurse practitioner and health educator. Joette began her career at NYU in Manhattan, where she was employed as a registered nurse for three years. She later worked as the Director of Student Health Services at Siena College, P.S. 19 Elementary School in Albany as a school nurse and health teacher, and at Albany Medical Center as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. She ultimately worked for Troy High School as a health educator, where she cared deeply for her students and wanted desperately for them to be successful not only in their education but in their development towards being healthy and resilient young adults.

Joette also spent much of her free time participating in numerous volunteer activities. She was a devoted member of the St. John the Evangelist folk group choir for 14 years, including being the choir director for two, she was a volunteer nurse for Double H Hole in the Woods, a camp for children with terminal illness, and most recently she worked with Catholic Charities doing Hurricane Katrina relief work in Baton Rouge.

Joette passed away suddenly in April 2008 from a brain aneurysm. Her love of music, nature, commitment to family, animals (especially Golden Retrievers), and a deep sense of compassion for what is right and just were attributes and passions she carried with her throughout her life. She was an incredible force of nature, always thinking of others and trying to help whenever possible. The Joette P. Delia Curiano Scholarship Fund was created to honor her life and celebrate her legacy.