Clare N. O'Brien

Granville, N.Y. Clare N. O'Brien passed away on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007. Clare was born on Aug. 29, 1920, in Granville, N.Y., the daughter of William J. and Anna (Anderson) Norton. Clare graduated from Granville high school and then from the College of New Rochelle in 1941. She attended graduate school at Columbia University. Clare was the mother of seven children and, not that one would not be busy enough with that, she was also co-owner of the family business - Wilson Clothing Co. Clare loved Granville and the people who live there. After retiring, Clare's time was freed to devote her boundless energy for volunteering and her many acts of kindness. No matter where she was, or what she was doing, it was done with a positive attitude and a warm, beaming smile. As the Slate Valley Museum began to move from a dream to a reality, Clare worked tirelessly in the efforts to bring it to fruition. In addition to being a founding member, Clare was also the secretary of the board of directors. It would have been difficult to visit the museum and not find Clare working away at some project. Clare's family was always the most important priority in her life. In addition to being a fantastic mother, she included in her life such activities as membership in the Granville PTA and serving on the Granville School Board of Education. The education and well-being of her own children were monumental, but Clare also felt passionately about its priority for all children, especially those of the community she loved. Clare was a Scout leader and taught catechism at St. Mary's Church for many years. Other organizations in which Clare volunteered or served were: Washington County Children's Committee, she was a representative for Granville to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Planned Parenthood, member and past president of the Emma Lang Stevens Hospital Auxiliary and Slate Valley Garden Club, in addition to being an avid gardener. Clare's love of quilting, needlework and cross-stitch led her to the creation of a business known as Quilts by Clare. In keeping with her kind and generous spirit, she donated many of her quilts to be used as fundraisers for numerous local charities. In addition to this, she donated many of her creations of love to swaddle AIDS babies. Clare also shared her talents with anyone who wanted to learn the fine art of quilting, teaching many local hands to quilt. Clare enjoyed spending time at Lake St. Catherine. Any who knew her, knew her love of the sun. Clare was a prolific reader and, along with the love of words, she thoroughly enjoyed doing crosswords. Clare's favorite task was handwritten thank you letters. Many people noted of her thank you letters, "You haven't been thanked until you have been thanked by Clare." Clare was predeceased by her husband, J. Emmett O'Brien in 1981 and a son, Daniel J. O'Brien in 1973. Survivors are her three sons: David O'Brien and his wife, Susan, of Hooksett, N.H. and their children, Carrie Ann O'Brien- Ambrosi and Kim Perry, Harold Michael O'Brien and his wife, Susan, of Manchester, N.H. and their children, Kathryn, Michael and Andrew and Peter O'Brien and his wife, Ann, of Granville and their children, Gregory and Meghan; three daughters: Joanna Prouty and her husband, Jack, of Hampton, N.Y. and their children, Jeffrey, Jeremy and Joshua, Jill O'Brien of Newburgh, N.Y. and her children, James and Sean Giery and Mary Boisvert and her husband, Donald, of Hooksett, N.H. and their children, Stacey, Daniel and Corey. Included in Clare's circle of love are her great-grandchildren: Brittany, Bradley, Brooke, Brynna, Brent, Kassie, Cody, Carrie, Alix and Brock. Also surviving is her brother, John Norton and his wife, Noreen, of Granville in addition to several special nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 23 Bulkley Ave., Granville, today, Dec. 1, 2007 at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Thomas Zelker presiding. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Slate Valley Museum, 17 Water St., Granville, NY 12832 or the Granville Rescue Squad, Box 158, Granville, NY 12832. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robert M. King Funeral Home.