Claire Constance Cormier, 93, formerly of Orwell, VT, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2020 after a brief illness.
The daughter of Louis and Blanche (Villeneuve) Paul, she was born on August 31, 1927. She grew up in Pepperell, MA and after high school graduation attended Salter College in Worcester, MA.
She married her husband of 69 years and the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Cormier on May 12, 1951. Over the course of their years together, they lived in many places on the East Coast, including Wayland, MA, Southbridge, MA, Syracuse, NY and Naples, FL. They traveled throughout the US and abroad.
Claire chose a life of loving service, caring for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, parents, extended family, friends, and most especially her beloved husband, Dick, to whom she was totally devoted.
She was a devout Catholic throughout her life and had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother. Incredibly talented, she played the piano and, in her younger years, the saxophone in a women’s band.
She loved to garden with her “green thumb”, sew, paint in watercolor, do flower arranging, and make Christmas dolls. She always cooked enough for an army and was the cornerstone of the family who drew everyone back “home”. She was a woman of strength, endurance, love and care.
Claire is survived by her husband Richard Cormier; children Suzanne Willant and husband James, Diane Freeman and husband John, Paul Cormier, Robert Comier and wife Patricia, Thomas Cormier and partner Arielle Berberick; grandchildren Michael McKenna and wife Leah, Matthew McKenna and wife Jill, Christine Caza, Keith Scher and wife Josie Maldonado, Michelle Keefe and husband Fran, John Freeman II and wife Lauren, Brian Chase and wife Kelly, Andrew Cormier, Jennifer Pierre and husband Gary, Danielle Cormier, Kimberly Lasinski and husband Christopher, Robert Cormier and finance Catherine DelGobbo, Michael Cormier and wife Renee, Kathleen Moulds and husband Joel, Hillary Pratt, David Cormier, Joshua Comier, Jacob Cormier, Annabella Haga; great grandchildren Hailey, Alyssa and William McKenna, Rosalyn, Kaylin and Marilynn Caza, Olivia, Isaiah, Julianna and Noah Scher, Jack and Rachel Freeman, Jamie and Ethan Keisiner, Linkin and Lily Keefe, Madeline, Riley and Avery Chase, Grayson Pierre, Francesca, Matthew, and Christian Lasinski, Emmalyn and Aislin Cormier, Ila Therese and James Moulds, Zoey Pratt; sister-in laws Therese Violette and Anne Marie Roberts; Cousins Irene Crosby and husband Roger, Claire Villeneuve and partner Mel Mitnick, Pierre Provost and wife Julie, Elaine Sinotte, and many nieces and nephews and her dog, Sarah, “her little girl”.
Claire is predeceased by her parents Louis and Blanche Paul, her daughter-in-law Shirley Cormier, and grandsons Christopher Cormier and James McKenna.
Calling hours will be held at Sansoucy Funeral Home, 40 Marcy St, Southbridge, MA on Friday, September 18, 2020 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. A funeral Mass will follow at 11 AM at Notre Dame Church-
St Paul Parish at 446 Main St, Southbridge, MA. Burial will follow at New Notre Dame Cemetery, 746 North Woodstock Rd, Southbridge, MA.
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