Our dear Mother, Marjorie Ruth (Rafuse) Kurtz, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2010 at the age of 101. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Ralph, to whom she was married for 50 years. Marjorie was born on May 4, 1909 in Marlborough, Massachusetts to Wallace and Ruth (Mosher) Rafuse. She graduated from Hudson, MA High School and Becker College in Worcester, MA and worked in Boston as an assistant to the president of N.E. Power Co. Marjorie married her brother Bob's best friend on December 30, 1931. She and Ralph moved many times, finally settling on Keeney Street in Manchester, CT, where Ralph and his brothers started Kurtz Brothers Tool and Die Co. She worked for many years in the office helping Ralph while raising their five children. She is survived by her children Richard of Suffield, CT; Robert and his wife Priscilla (Bernais) of Windsor, CT; Marjorie and her husband Morgan Grant of Ft. Myers, FL and South Hero, VT; Marilyn and her husband William Hunniford of Bonita Springs, FL; and Debra and her husband Edward Creighton of Manchester, CT. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Donna Turnbull, Cheryl Spurr, Brenda Lemieux, Steven Kurtz, Judith Gilkerson, Catherine Kurtz, Jennifer Grant, Jeanne Hebert, Jill McKenzie, William Hunniford, Jr., Julianne Santella, Saralyn Fiege, Jessica Creighton, and Whitney Creighton; 23 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Gramma was truly loved by her large family. Her home was always open and her cookie jar full of home-baked peanut butter cookies. She was also known for her exceptional apple crumb pie. She loved playing bingo at Assumption Church and scrabble with her friends at the Arbors and her family. She was a member of Center Congregational Church for 57 years, the Manchester Garden Club and the Manchester Senior Citizens Center. Her saddest moments were the losses of three of Bob and Priscilla's children: Gary Kurtz, Bruce Kurtz and Lucy Tramonte, and Rich's wife Joan (Foss). She is also predeceased by her brothers Robert, Laurence (Babe), and Donald; her sister Margaret; and of course, Ralph. Funeral service will be held on Monday (August 30th) at 11 am at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester followed by burial in East Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 3-6 pm. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.