Florette Leona (Poirier) Culbert, 85 years old, a longtime resident of the Pawtucketville section of Lowell, died Wednesday morning at her residence surrounded by her loving family. She was the widow of the late Francis Patrick Culbert who died in 2005 with whom she celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Born in Springfield, Vermont, she was a daughter of the late Arthur and Florence (Blodgette) Poirier and was educated in the Springfield schools. Mrs. Culbert then moved to Lowell and graduated from Middlesex Community College with high honors and received her B.A. in Elementary Education and Art from Lowell State Teachers College. She taught many years in the Lowell Public Schools and Dracut High School before retiring. Mrs. Culbert also taught arts and crafts during the summers at the former YMCA camp in Pelham, NH. She loved art and also taught private lessons in watercolor and oil and enjoyed designing dresses and gowns.
Florette wrote and published two books for the Lowell Special Education Department. She also wrote and published the 75th Anniversary book for St. Rita’s Shrine and several children’s books.
Mrs. Culbert was the co-owner of Culbert’s Varity and Gift Store on University Avenue as well as A Belvidere Florist in Lowell. She enjoyed her summers at Silver Sands Campground in Chester, NH as well as the last eight years at Calef Lake in Auburn, NH. Florette also enjoyed traveling on many trips to Europe and researching genealogy. The joys of her life were her two white teacup poodles “Tiny and Lucky”.
Mrs. Culbert was a communicant of St. Rita’s Shrine. Being a devout Catholic, she was never caught a day without her rosaries and daily prayers. She was a member of the Spindle City Garden Club, the Local Order of the Ladies Hibernians, the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion, Pelham Post #100, the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association and very active for the American Heart Fund, the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association.
She is survived by her daughter Dawn Marie Castner and her husband Chris of China Village, ME; five sons; Patrick Culbert and his fiancé Darleen Turcotte of Pelham, NH, John Culbert and his wife Linda of Lowell, Timothy Culbert and his partner Heather Bilodeau of Winthrop, ME, Joseph Culbert of Lowell with whom Florette made her home and James Culbert and his wife Lisa of Manchester, NH; eighteen grandchildren; twenty one great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
She was also the sister of the late Leo M. Poirier, Mother in Law of the late Judith (Dean) Culbert, grandmother of the late Stephen Joseph Culbert and great grandmother of the late Ella Marie and Mark John Spychalski.
CULBERT- Relatives and friends may call on Sunday March 28 from 2 until 6 pm at the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 NESMITH ST.(Rte.38) Lowell. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday March 29 at St. Rita’s Shrine at 10 am. Burial in St. Patrick Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to the Lowell V.N.A. Hospice, 336 Central St .Lowell, MA 01852 or to the Lowell Humane Society, 951 Broadway St., Lowell, MA 01854. Arrangements are by the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, LOWELL,MA.