Clare Sanford Holcombe

Clare Sanford Holcombe, 90, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, of natural causes in Venice, Florida.

Born April 21, 1930, she grew up on a farm in Walton, New York. She earned her degree as a registered nurse at the Greenwich Hospital School of Nursing. Clare devoted her professional life to nursing, first as a practical nurse, and then, later in life, she returned to nursing in geriatric care, mostly at Vernon Manor in Vernon. She married Frank Hayes and raised their children, Laurie, Susan and Steve, in South Windsor. Clare was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in South Windsor for many years, and then Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Venice, Florida.

After a divorce from Frank, she found love with Raymond "Bud" Holcombe, a widower and businessman in South Windsor, and they married in Venice, Florida in 1981. Clare was warmly welcomed into the large Holcombe family and hosted many family gatherings in South Windsor and then in Florida after a permanent move to Venice. Clare and Bud worked hard to join their two families as one. An excellent homemaker, cook, and knitter, Clare shared her skills and love with all of her children and grandchildren, including berry picking for making jam and catching crabs off the dock with chicken legs, string, and fish nets. A life-long Republican like Bud, she enjoyed staying current and discussing politics.

Clare and Bud loved their home and life together in Florida, enjoying the wildlife, beaches, camping, bicycling, walking trails, canoeing, and especially the herons and egrets that would visit their backyard. With intense and loving dedication, Clare took care of Bud in his difficult final years, enabling him to live at home until the last few months of his life, and she missed him dearly after his death in 2006.

Clare has joined her husband, Bud; her daughter, Laurie S. Pooler of Dickson, Tennessee; and son, Steve S. Hayes of East Hartford in their eternal rest. Clare leaves behind her daughter, Susan and husband, Thomas O'Reilly, and grand-daughter, Caitlin, all of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and grandsons, Jeb and Nathan (and his wife, Misty) Pooler of Tennessee. She is also dearly missed by her Holcombe family through Bud: Kirby and wife, Elaine, of Rangeley, Maine; Jeff and wife, Dawn; Pam and husband, Larry Beaudry; and Willa and husband, Michael Berghuis, all of South Windsor. Clare will be missed by 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

As she wished, Clare will rest with Bud at Wapping Cemetery, South Windsor, after a private family ceremony.