Carolyn H. "Carol" Curtis, 84, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. The daughter of Sybilla and Jacob Hefti, she lived in the Mountain View area (Greensburg) for 47 years before moving to Rancho Mirage, Calif., in February 2015 to be closer to family. Born March 11, 1931, in Syracuse, N.Y., and a graduate of North Syracuse High School, Carol was a graduate of Crane School of Music, Potsdam, N.Y., where she once sang in Carnegie Hall. After college, she moved to Rochester, N.Y., where she taught music in a city school. It is during that time when she met the love of her life, Thomas A. Curtis. They married on March 24, 1956, and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Unfortunately, Tom lost his battle with cancer at the age of 43 in 1973. In addition to her husband, Tom, Carol was preceded in death by her father, Jacob Hefti (1932); mother, Sybilla Hefti Ibach (1990); and stepfather, John Ibach (1994). Carol is survived by her three children, Debbie Curtis, of Camarillo, Calif., Tom Curtis (wife, Dana), of Victoria, Texas, and Jim Curtis (wife, Christine), of La Quinta, Calif. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Katelin, Logan, Karlee and Addison. Carol was an active member of Latrobe Presbyterian Church, where she served as deacon and trustee. She was musical director and pianist for Ligonier Valley Players for many years, and also played the piano for numerous productions at the Apple Hill Theatre and Greensburg Civic Theatre. Carol could be found on most holidays playing the piano and leading sing-alongs at Latrobe Country Club. In addition to playing the piano for private parties and teaching piano to nearly 50 students over a 35-year period, Carol was the pianist for many Greater Latrobe Community Chorus performances just prior to moving to California. "Piano keys are black and white, but they sound like a million colors in your mind."

Family and friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, in the HARTMAN-GRAZIANO FUNERAL HOME INC., 1500 Ligonier St., Latrobe. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in Latrobe Presbyterian Church, 428 Main St., Latrobe, with her pastor, the Rev. Clark R. Kerr, officiating. Everyone please go directly to the church. A reception will then be held at the church, followed by a private interment at Unity Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Carol's memory to Latrobe Presbyterian Church, 428 Main St., Latrobe, PA 15650 or to the Valley Players of Ligonier, P.O. Box 127, Ligonier, PA 15658. To post an online condolence, please visit www.hartman-grazianofuneralhome.com.

(Published in Greensburg Tribune Review from Feb. 14 to Feb. 18, 2016)