Claire Bernice Faiver

Claire Bernice Faiver was born to eternal life on March 26, 2020, at age 81. She was the beloved wife of John Walsh; the loving mother of Anne (Nicholaus) Wiberg and Tim (Falon Graff) Walsh; the proud grandmother of Homer, Lincoln, Corbin, Madeleine, and Ari; the dear sister of Kenneth (Rosemary) Faiver, Mary Therese (Dennis) Swanson, Joan (Alex) Spitzley, and Thomas (Sue Anne) Faiver; a caring aunt to many nieces and nephews; and a kind friend to many.

Claire was born on November 9, 1938, in Lansing, Michigan, to Kenneth and Claire Faiver, whose love for each other set the tone for the Faiver family. During her childhood she enjoyed running races with her friends and spending summer days in her favorite tree playing tag in the branches or reading. Her family attended of the Church of the Resurrection, and Claire went to Resurrection School through high school. She participated in choir and excelled academically, graduating as salutatorian in 1956.

After high school, she entered the Adrian Dominican Sisters religious community, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in preparation for a career in education. As an Adrian sister, Claire taught many grades and many subjects, although her favorite grade to teach was third, and she particularly loved teaching geometry and poetry. Her teaching brought her to St. Clair, Michigan, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, before she spent seven years in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. She learned Spanish, which she continued to speak and study into retirement, and her work there inspired her faith and commitment to social justice. She found beauty in the island’s mountains, star gazed with her telescope, and played the guitar. During the Dominican Civil War of 1965, she was evacuated by helicopter to Puerto Rico when the United States intervened militarily. The sight of the capital in flames as she left was a lasting memory.

In 1971, Claire returned to secular life, moving to Milwaukee to live with her brother and sister-in-law before establishing herself and settling in the city. She took a position as a special education teacher, and then studied nursing, becoming a registered nurse and working in various Milwaukee health facilities. She met John Walsh, and they were married in 1977 in an open-air wedding at Hubbard Park, and Claire sewed her own wedding dress.

Claire and John were overjoyed with the birth of their daughter, Anne; Timothy followed three years later. Claire was able to become a full-time mother, a life-long ambition. Claire explored the nooks and crannies of Milwaukee with her kids, visiting parks, museums, nature reserves, theatres, and music performances. Claire, the sole driver in the family, took the family on regular trips to visit relatives in Michigan and Chicago. She worked in her garden, planting vegetables and flowers, and passed on her grandmother’s words, that “when your hands are in the earth, you are with God.” As her children got older, she returned to work as a librarian at Hampton Elementary School.

Claire and John found a spiritual home and community at St. Benedict the Moor Parish, where they shared a vision of service and social justice. The couple served at St. Benedict’s meal program for many years, and Claire made the three-bean salad faithfully every month. Together, they participated in protests against war, nuclear proliferation, gun violence, and the School of the Americas. Until 2017, they attended Peace Action’s Stand for Peace demonstrations as often as possible.

In retirement, Claire audited classes at UW-Milwaukee, participated in discussion groups with friends, and treasured the time she had during getaways with her four siblings. Claire and John traveled to the Canadian Rockies, toured Ireland, and visited their son and daughter-in-law in Guatemala. But Claire’s true joy was spending time with her grandchildren, and she was always first in their eyes for her warmth, her smile, and her ability to touch their young hearts.

Claire was diagnosed with dementia, and in January 2018 she moved to the Ovation Jewish Home. John faithfully visited her every day from morning until night. The family extends a heartfelt thank you to the nurses, CNAs, music therapists, kitchen staff, security staff, occupational therapists, doctors, and many others at Ovation Jewish Home for their loving care of not only Claire, but her entire family. The family would also like to express gratitude to everyone who supported Claire and the family throughout her illness. You are all truly saints, and as Claire would say, your deeds will earn you a high place in heaven.

Due to the public health emergency, the immediate family will hold private services. A celebration of life will be held in the future. Memorials can be made to St. Benedict the Moor Meal Program.