Clara Ellen "Claire" Benecki

Clara Ellen Benecki "Claire"

Claire Benecki, 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 2, 2011.

Claire was raised and worked in Philadelphia, PA. She eventually moved to New Jersey and married Sy Layton. She worked for DuPont for many years. Unfortunately, she was widowed in her 40's. At the age of 50, Claire married Raymond J. Benecki, a widower, who also worked for DuPont, and they moved to Delaware where they enjoyed the last 36 years. Claire and Ray spent several years in Holland and Ireland shortly after they were married. They returned to Delaware in the early 1980's, but continued to travel extensively for pleasure. Claire enjoyed painting, had a beautiful garden of flowers and vegetables, and was an active member of several horticultural clubs.

Claire lost her husband, Ray, to pancreatic cancer less than a year ago. She leaves behind Raymond and Joanne, her son and daughter-in-law, and their three sons, Steven, Matthew and Kevin; and Theresa and Ted, her daughter and son-in-law, and their four children, Katherine, Theresa Anne, Teddy and Thomas. Her cousin and his wife, James and Nancy Davis, also survive her. She will be dearly missed by all of them. Claire also left behind many devoted friends who helped her until the very end.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Family Church, Chestnut Hill and Gender Roads, Newark on Wednesday, July 6 at 1 pm. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Claire may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation, 111 Stewart Ave., Bethpage, NY 11714, which is dedicated to the cure of pancreatic cancer.

DOHERTY FUNERAL HOMES
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