Claire M. Del Guerra

Claire M. (Vangelisti) Del Guerra, 87, of Great Falls died of natural causes Monday, Sept. 17, at her home.

A vigil service is 7 p.m. today at O'Connor Memorial Chapel. Funeral liturgy is 1 p.m. Thursday at Corpus Christi Catholic Church (formerly St. Luke's Catholic Church). O'Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Claire was born on May 19, 1925, the eldest child of Dante and Yolanda Vangelisti. Claire grew up in Black Eagle, attending Collins School and St. Mary's High School.

Her father instilled in her a lifelong love of learning, encouraging her to attend college so that she would have a profession. Claire attended the College of Great Falls and attained a certificate to teach. She set out and began teaching grades one through six in a one-room school house in Calvert and later in the two-room Manchester School. Claire returned to college in 1948, earning a degree in elementary education, and in 1950 earned a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics from Montana State University. Upon graduation, she was offered a job as an extension agent in Hill County, a position that she held for five years. She earned a Master of Science degree in home economics in 1972 and was honored by receiving the distinction of Professor Emeritus in Family and Consumer Sciences in 2004.

She married Serafino Del Guerra in September 1955, and settled into life as a wife and homemaker. During this time, she gave birth to her son, Tony, and daughter, Dana. Serafino died unexpectedly in an industrial accident in 1963. After his death, Claire again returned to college, this time earning a degree in secondary education. She was then employed as a teacher at Saints Peter and Paul and Central Catholic High School.

In 1970, she began her career as an extension agent with Cascade County, a position she held until her reluctant retirement in June 2006. Passionate about education, learning began as soon as she entered a room and did not stop until she left. Claire cared deeply about the people she served, and by the end of her career there were few people whose life she had not touched in one way or another. Her tireless work ethic and pride in a job well done was passed on to both her son and daughter. Claire was very involved in the Extension Homemakers Organization and developed many lifelong friendships through this. Many also remember Claire as a fixture each summer at the Montana State Fair in the 4-H or Family Living Buildings, where she spent 61 summers. There were few more special times to her than fair week. She served as a 4-H Superintendent, as well as a judge for foods and food competitions.

A longtime community advocate, Claire served on over 60 boards throughout Great Falls and the surrounding area. Claire often said, "The sky's the limit in what you can achieve when you empower people to improve their lives." Claire was one of the founding members of the Grandparents Raising Grandkids Organization. In addition, some of Claire's most important work was in the area of mental health. She was a founding member of the Cascade County Mental Health Association and played an active role on the committee for the annual Beautiful Minds Walk. When anyone needed help or a donation, Claire was often their first call, and she was always at the ready with a list of people to mobilize. She often said her work kept her young, and she remained involved on several boards and organizations until her death.

Never one to want to stand in the spotlight, she nonetheless received several awards for her many achievements during her storied career, including the Distinguished Service Award for Montana from the National Home Economics Association (1976), Mother of the Year (1980), the Arrowhead Award (1984), the Silver Apple Award given by the Great Falls Education Association (1985), the Soroptimist Woman of Distinction for the North West Region (1985), the Jefferson Award from Governor Ted Schwinden (1986), the Continued Excellence Award from the National Association of Extension Home Economics (1986), the Virginia Blend Award (1987), Great Falls Business and Professional Women's Woman of Achievement Award (1986), the Cascade County Mental Health Association Award (1987), the YWCA Salute to Women Award in Health Education for the development of the annual Great Falls Health Fair and the Heritage Preservation Award from the Cascade County Historical Society (2007).

Claire grew up surrounded by love, family and food in a home where the door was always open and food was plentiful. Proud of her Italian-American heritage, she instilled in her immediate and extended family the time honored traditions of Italian cooking. We were always met with the smell of homemade ravioli and other Italian specialties for family celebrations. She imparted in her children so many valuable life lessons and always led by example. Claire was extremely proud of her granddaughters and shared a unique bond with them. Spring break, weeks in the summer and any other moments they could arrange were spent together. Claire always met them at their level, playing games, reading, laughing and instilling in them self confidence and a belief that there is no dream too large for them to achieve. Most importantly she listened to them.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Serafino; father Dante; mother Yolanda; brother David Vangelisti; and sister Eileen Strizich.

She is survived by her son, Tony, and his wife, Laura of Missoula; daughter, Dana, and her partner, Ron Klassen of Great Falls; grandchildren Madeline and Olivia of Missoula; sister-in-law Katherine Niccolucci of Missoula; nieces Teresa Strizich, Katie Salyards, Margaret Brown, Andrea Strizich, Gemma Strizich, Anita Day, Claire Vangelisiti and Serena Halvorson; and nephews John Strizich, Greg Strizich, Tom Strizich, Albert Niccolucci and Mike Niccolucci..

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts in Claire's name be directed to the Montana State University Alumni Foundation 1501 S. 11th Ave., P.O. Box 172750 Bozeman, MT 59717 or the Center for Mental Health Foundation, 915 1st Ave South, Great Falls, MT 59403.

The Cascade County Extension Office will close at noon on Thursday in honor of Claire's service to Cascade County.

Condolences may be posted online at www.oconnorfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.