Claire Eileen Winters

WINTERS, Claire Eileen (McDermott) Claire Eileen (McDermott) Winters, dearly loved wife of Felix Winters, died from complications related to Parkinson's Disease on March 18 surrounded by her family. She was born on May 8, 1929 in Hampton, daughter of Anna S. and Robert J. McDermott II. Graduating from Eastern Connecticut Teacher's College in 1951, her professional life was dedicated to education, serving as a librarian for Hartford Public Schools, Windham Public Schools, and the U. S. Navy in San Juan, Puerto Rico, an island she cherished and returned to throughout her life. She taught at Horace Porter School in Columbia and North Windham School, retiring in 1987 from Natchaug School in Willimantic where she initiated the school safety patrol, the school store, and the school theatrical performance, and where she earned the distinction of "Teacher of the Year". These last months she was visited by former students, children she loved as though they were her own, who returned her generosity by sharing beautiful memories of their beloved Mrs. Winters. Claire was also very active in the Hampton community. She was a long-standing member of the Democratic Town Committee, served on the Planning and Zoning Commission, and produced and played several roles in the Hampton Community Players. After retirement, she served as the Democratic Registrar of Voters for many years, and volunteered as assistant librarian at the Fletcher Memorial Library where she could be found almost daily, cataloguing, shelving, or helping little children learn to read. She was a life-time communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Claire was predeceased by her brother, Robert J. McDermott III, and is survived by her husband of 54 years, her son, Michael Sean Winters of Maryland, her daughter and son-in-law, Dayna McDermott and Juan Arriola of Hampton, and three granddaughters, Jill Eileen Dumas of Washington D. C., Sarah McDermott of Hollywood, California, and India Bustillos Arriola of Hampton. The family extends deep gratitude for the exceptional care and compassion she received at St. Joseph's Living Center. Funeral arrangements are through the Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic, where calling hours will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 25. A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Hampton on Monday, March 26, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in North Cemetery, Hampton. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, P. O. Box 211, Brooklyn, Ct., 06234; or the Hampton Fire Department, 190 West Old Route 6, Hampton, Ct., 06247. For online memorials, please visit www.potterfh.com.