Claire Dowd

DOWD, Claire P. (nee Marc Aurele), age 90, homemaker, departed this life on January 12, 2010. She is survived by three children, her son, Jeffrey and his wife, Cynthia, of Midlothian, Va.; son, Stephen and his wife, Debbie, of Georgetown, Calif.; and daughter, Christine D. Wood of Los Alamos, N.M.; eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond J. Dowd, to whom she was married for 65 years before his passing last year. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Catherine (d'Amour) Marc Aurele; and five brothers and six sisters. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Marjorie LaCroix of Framingham, Mass. and Claire Harty of Fairfax, Va. Mrs. Dowd was born and raised in Worcester, Mass. She attended Ecole St. Joseph and graduated from Commerce High School in 1939. During World War II, she enlisted in the WAVES, where she served from 1942 until 1945. Claire was a wonderful wife and mother, devoted to her family and generous with her time and attention. As her children got older, she was employed as a library assistant in the Amity, Conn. school system. An avid sportswoman, she enjoyed swimming, tennis, golf and the Boston Red Sox. All who knew her remember her unfailingly positive attitude and kindness towards all. Her family will surely miss her wit and commentary. The family wishes to thank the staff and nurses at Morningside at Bellgrade for their care and devotion during Claire's latter years. Her remains rest at the Huguenot Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at St. Edward's Catholic Church, 2700 Dolfield Drive. Her final resting place will be Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the local chapter of the American Heart Association.



This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.