Obituary of Rev. Canon Curtis S. Denney

The Rev. Canon Curtis S. Denney, 83, died November 1, 2015, at the United Helpers Riverledge Nursing Home. He was surrounded by his children. Rev. Denney was born in Utica on May 16, 1932, while his father was rector in Morris, NY. He is pre-deceased by his parents, The Rev. Lucien C. Denney, and Helen Stetson Denney, and two sisters, Marguerite (Dunn) of Oneonta, NY and Mary (Hemens) of Manlius, NY. Surviving are his wife, Mary Pickett Denney at Riverledge Nursing Home, two daughters, Pamela Denney of Tillson, NY, Stephanie Denney of Syracuse, NY, four grandchildren and their spouses and four great grandchildren. A son, Daniel, predeceased him. Rev. Denney graduated from Watertown High School then served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict before attending SUNY Albany where he graduated magna cum laude from the bachelors' program. He went on to General Theological Seminary in New York City, and was ordained to the Episcopal Deaconate in December of 1963, by the Rt. Rev. Allen W. Brown and a priest of the Diocese of Albany a year later. He served as curate at Christ Church, Cooperstown, NY, and then as rector at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Mechanicville, NY, and at Grace Church, Canton, NY for twenty years. After retiring from the diocese, Rev. Denney served as Protestant Chaplin at St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, Ogdensburg, NY, while supplying at Christ Church, Morristown, NY, St. John's Church, Ogdensburg, NY, and as priest-in-charge at Zion Church in Colton, NY, and other parishes in Northern New York. Rev. Canon Denney also served as dean of the St. Lawrence Deanery and was active in Cursio, healing and ecumenical ministries. A funeral service will be held on Nov. 7 2015 at 1:00 PM at Grace Church, Canton. Burial will be in the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, NY. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church. Arrangements are with Lawrence Funeral Home in Canton, NY. Memorial contributions are suggested to Grace Church or to Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.lawrencefuneralhome.org.