Clare Willard

Clare Carey Willard

Resident of San Mateo

Nov. 29, 1926-Apr. 28, 2012

Born in San Francisco, Clare moved to San Mateo County as a young child where she lived the rest of her life. Clare's parents, James T. and Mary Margaret Carey founded the Carey School in Burlingame in 1928, which was later moved to San Mateo. Clare was co-owner and director until her retirement in 1989. She wrote and directed many children's musicals for the Carey School. A long-time member and past president of San Mateo County Reading Association and a founder of the Private Pre-School Association of CA.

Clare earned her pilot's license and flew as a Charter member of the Woman Flyers of America, Inc. A columnist for a Burlingame Newspaper and the Big Sun Gazette in Carmel. Clare won a number of poetry awards for her published poetry. She was a world traveler and theater supporter as well as a volunteer lobbyist for educational bills. She volunteered as a counselor at S.M. County Juvenile Hall and also taped reading material for the blind. As a long time devoted member of St. Catherine's of Siena Catholic Church in Burlingame, she taught Catechism there. A graduate of Mercy High School, she attended Mt. Angel College, Oregon, S.J. State University, S.F. State University and USF. She is predeceased by her parents, her sister Mary Therese Carey and her husband Charles L. Willard who died in 1983. She is survived by her step-daughter Carol Willard Hayes and step-grandchildren, Donna, Whitney and John.

Friends are invited to attend a Vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Sneider & Sullivan & O'Connell's Funeral Home, 977 So. El Camino Real in San Mateo. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 7, 2012 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1310 Bayswater Avenue in Burlingame. Committal at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. SNEIDER & SULLIVAN & O'CONNELL'S FUNERAL HOME (650) 343-1804

www.ssofunerals.com