Claire Sabourin Arbour
Claire Sabourin Arbour
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Claire Arbour Obituary
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Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Claire married Alger "Jay" Arbour on July 9, 1955, and began a journey with him following his NHL career all over Canada, ending up in the United States. She arrived in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island in 1973 and remained there until she moved to Longboat Key in 1999.
She was married to Al for 60 years when he went home to the Lord in 2015.
A member of the Ladies Guild of St. Mary's, Claire prayed the Rosary daily, and had a prayer book packed with the special intensions of everyone she knew.
Claire believed strongly in the power of guardian angels and never went anywhere without an angel pin on her shoulder.
She enjoyed watching hockey until her final days and continued to watch nearly every NHL game. She was particularly dedicated to - and vocal about -rooting for her beloved New York Islanders.
She loved playing games with her loved ones, whether it was scrabble, sequence, mahjong, or any card game, she was in it to win it and had so many laughs along the way.
Al introduced her to the game of golf when they joined the Huntington Country Club. And Claire had the last laugh soon after, when she scored a rare "hole in one" - something Al, a professional athlete, never managed to accomplish.
Claire is survived by a brother, three daughters, a son, eleven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Alger, she was also pre-deceased by her grandson, Jared Mazzola, who passed away in 2002 and her siblings Guy, Adrienne, Corinne, and Muguette.
A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church on March 9 at 1 p.m.
Friends will be received at 2:30 p.m. on the mezzanine level of Plymouth Harbor, 700 John Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Parkinson's Foundation.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Suella and Scotty Bowman
April 8, 2024
Claire and Al were Special People and great Friends to us for 57 years. We have so many great memories of time we spent together. Or Condolences to all the Arbour Family Members at this time on the recent passing of Claire. Suella and Scotty Bowman and Family
Stephanie Allison
March 10, 2024
We were so sorry to hear about Aunt Claire's passing. I have fond memories of spending time at the camp and our house on Trout Lake growing up. She will be missed Love, Stephanie, Bill, John and Colin
Joseph Limongelli
March 10, 2024
On behalf of the entire Limongelli family.
We love you and will always be remembered
Love
Joseph and Ellen Limongelli
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Pat Hall
March 9, 2024
The Hall family sends out our heart felt sympathies to the Arbour family in the passing of Claire. Al and my Dad were teammates on every professional team my dad played on. Starting with the Windsor Spitfires then the Edmonton Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and St Louis Blues. That meant Claire and my Mom shared the "hockey wife" journey together and became close friends. We feel blessed that our journeys crossed paths and that we were able to spend the time with Claire that we did. Her positive outlook on life rubbed off on all of us as did her strong faith.
The Halls, Glenn Pat, Leslie, Tammy and Lindsay
Cecile Gauthier
March 3, 2024
Rest in Peace Claire.Al and Claire were our Sudbury Ontario neighbors.They were such a great couple.We had many gatherings with them and my Mom and Claire shared a garden for quite a few years.We had many visits to their cottage and Mom and Dad were godparents to one of their children.We were like family and we were always happy to see them in the summer.❤
Peggy & Joseph Mazzola
March 3, 2024
It was always a pleasure to spend time with Claire, "Mrs. Arbour", when she and Al would visit Chapel Hill NC, where his eldest daughter, Jo-Anne, lived with her husband Jim Mazzola and their two children, Jared and Jocelyn. She was a lovely lady and a fierce Islander fan. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Claire and Al Arbour will never be forgotten!
Brian Allan
March 3, 2024
Our condolences to the Arbour and Sabourin families. Thank you to the Matriarch of the franchise from all Islanders fans everywhere for your selfless support! Rest In Peace with the Coach and your family that preceded you Mrs Arbour
mitch hersh
March 2, 2024
I had the pleasure to know both Claire and Al when I worked at the Nassau Coliseum. I was attending Hofstra University at the time and my family was in Florida. She asked if I had any plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I said no. She invited me to spend the holidays with her family. I was a guest with all the single Islander players. She and Al treated everyone with love.I was fortunate to remain in touch with her and Al when they moved to florida. without Claire their would be Al coaching the islanders and no Islander dynasty.She was the person who told Al to take the job with the Islanders because Al only knew New York city and did not wang to raise his children in a big city and not the beautiful Long Island that both of them came to love.
Susan Kelly
March 2, 2024
Condolences and love to the whole family of this remarkable and beautiful lady. She will be missed by all. Fran is happy she had such a nice visit with Claire in December.
Love , The Kelly family. Fran, Cathy, John, Ann, Susan, Karen & Danny.
G. Fitzgerald
March 2, 2024
I did not personally meet her. But her presence was felt through Al and any islander fan of the 80s. Thankyou for making the team and Long Island a special place to be at that time. RIP Claire as you join your beloved Al.
Patrick Calabria
March 2, 2024
She was such a lovely lady and a huge part of the Islanders family back in the 70s and 80s. Gracious. Sweet. Classy. It was wonderful to know her.
victor v
March 2, 2024
We here on Long Island owe so much gratitude for what Al and Claire did for our beloved Long Island. They were both people of exceptional character,integrity and compassion which is rare these days.RIP we love you both and will never ever forget your memory.
Ken Leiter
March 2, 2024
I met Claire when I played for the Islanders in the 80s. She was just a wonderful caring person. I was fortunate to be coached by Al in 84. I cant even begin to describe how classy the Arbours were. Blessed to have crossed paths with Claire and Al . RIP. You both will be missed but not forgotten
Peter Austin Noto
March 1, 2024
F
Ellen oneill
March 1, 2024
I never met mrs arbour but I rooted for coach arbour and the islanders when I was younger. My condolences to everyone from Long Island New York
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