Claire Annette Musante

1933 - 2014

FLORENCE - Claire Annette Musante died peacefully Monday, June 9, 2014, at her home in Florence, surrounded by her loving family.

Born Aug. 19, 1933, to the late Clermont and Elise Turcotte Poulin, Claire was a lifelong resident of Northampton. She attended local schools, graduating from Northampton High School in 1951 and Northampton Commercial College in 1954, as well as attending the University of Massachusetts.

Claire held several jobs during her lifetime, including sewing tobacco at the Boyle Farm in Hatfield, selling sweaters at the former McCallums Department Store, sharing her love of reading with children as the library aide at the Florence Grammar and the Ryan Road Elementary Schools, assisting in the Goodell Library at the University of Massachusetts, and doing accounting work in the Hampshire County Treasurer's Office.

Her most rewarding work, however, was raising her six children and helping them to raise her 17 grandchildren. Ironically, when once asked about how she managed to raise SIX she said, "I certainly didn't read a book about it, I just did it!" It was her devotion to her children that motivated her participation in civic and democratic causes, including volunteering in the PTA and cub scouts, and encouraging her former husband David B. Musante to enter city politics to reduce the overcrowding in the elementary schools. Despite her failing health, she maintained her civic mindedness in her later years by volunteering at the Northampton Senior Center and with Hug-a-Bears, as well as working at the polls on each election day.

Known to make the best Canadian meat pie, Boston baked beans, and Italian lasagna east of the Mississippi, Claire's love of cooking complemented her joy in bringing her family together to celebrate summer and winter holidays in Northampton and Cape Cod. She considered the close bond between her children and grandchildren her greatest achievement and legacy. Second only to her family was her passion for and lifelong devotion to the Boston Red Sox, choosing to turn a blind eye to the New York leanings of her sons-in law.

Claire is predeceased by her parents, brother Donald Poulin, and sister Lorraine Lavalle.

She is survived by her children Donna Nosofsky and her husband Robert of Bloomington, Indiana, Lisa Musante and her husband Fred Bartmon of Amherst, Patricia Musante and her husband August Carbonella of Northampton, Tom Musante and his wife Donna of Charlotte, North Carolina, John Musante and his wife Marlene of Amherst, and David J. Musante and his wife Anne of Hatfield; her grandchildren Michael, Alexander and Daniel Nosofsky, Nicholas and his wife Ruth, Peter and his wife Andrea Vigneaux, Tamaia, Taylor and Aliya Bartmon, Travis and Claire Elise Carbonella, and Joseph, Rebecca, Matthew, Rachel, Simson, Michael and Rosa Musante; her great-grandchildren Lina Binta Diedhiou and Anna Cordelia Bartmon-Vigneaux; her former husband David B. Musante; brother-in-law James Musante; sisters-in-law Mary Musante and Judith Poulin; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Claire's children would like to acknowledge the tremendous support shown by her dear friends, longtime neighbors, and extended family in helping their mother maintain her independence, as well as the VNA and Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Hospital for the gentle and loving care shown to their mother.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Czelusniak Funeral Home of Northampton. There will also be a brief visitation Friday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. A service celebrating her life will take place Friday at 10 a.m. at the Czelusniak Funeral Home of Northampton. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Claire's memory to the Northampton Schools Library Fund and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where her eldest grandchild was treated successfully for cancer 22 years ago.

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