LYNN — Mrs. Claire E. (Hennessey) Welch, age 94 and lifelong resident of Lynn, died at her home on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late Philip Welch, who predeceased her in 1980.
Born in Lynn in 1924, Claire was the daughter of the late James and Nora (Scieze) Hennessey. She attended Sacred Heart Grammar School, Breed Junior High School and graduated from Lynn Classical High School in 1942.
She worked as a fiscal director at the Lynn Housing Authority for more than 18 years, retiring in 1996. Claire was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, Lynn and was a member of the Parish Council, the Hospitality Committee and the Women’s Guild and received the Sacred Heart Legacy Award in 2003. She enjoyed gardening, swimming and going to the beach and was an avid sewer. She was an active member at the YMCA and loved to travel, often taking day trips to Connecticut and New Hampshire with her family and friends. Claire loved being a Nana and her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Claire is survived by her loving children, Phyllis O’Brien and her husband James of Burlington, Sharon Thomas and her husband William of Haverhill, Paul Welch and his wife Kathleen of Mission Viejo, Calif., and David Welch and his wife Darlene of Tewksbury; her beloved grandchildren, Shawna, Daniel, Ryan, Hollie, Erin, Paul, Shana, Meagan, Kellyn, Stacey, Patrick, Keara, Cameron, Molly and Kerrin; her cherished great-grandchildren; and her many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. In addition to her husband and parents, Claire was predeceased by her grandson Christopher Thomas and her sisters, Alice O’Shea, Margaret Ford and Louise Crighton.
Service information: Her funeral will be held on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 at 10 a.m. from the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Route 129), Lynn, followed by a funeral Mass in Sacred Heart Church, Lynn, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. Donations in Claire’s memory may be made to Sacred Heart School Development Fund, 571 Boston St., Lynn, MA 01905. Directions and online guestbook at www.solimine.com.
The post Claire E. Welch, 94 appeared first on Itemlive.