Claire Rena Shaw Parachini

Claire Rena Shaw Parachini For Claire, Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother ~ So how do you begin to sum up a life, a life filled with stories, memories, people and experiences? Claire Rena Shaw, born September 13, 1925 to Cornelia and William Shaw in Cliffside Park, New Jersey was destined to be a force for all persons she encountered. It's interesting to have people tell you stories about how our mother touched their lives, some amazingly wonderful stories. Claire passed away, November 22, 2013, due to complications from surgery. She leaves behind her lifetime sweetheart, Anthony Parachini, married May 31, 1948 and through the 65 years, son, William Parachini, his wife Amy and their two children, grandsons, Matthew Parachini and Michael Parachini and William's son, grandson, Tony Parachini; daughter, Claire Walker and her husband, Mitch and their three children, grandchildren, Kelly Ward and her husband, TJ with great grandchildren, Isabella (3) and Chase (6 months), Mitchell Walker and Kyla Walker and son, John Parachini, also, nephew, Robert Pratt and niece, Kathleen Pratt. All but Kathleen and Robert Pratt live in Florida We occupied a pretty big table for holidays! She was mom to her children and Maima to her grandchildren, a name given to her by Tony, oldest grandson trying to say grandmother. Isn't that how all grandmothers get their name? We chose to have her grandchildren's thoughts be the memory of Mom because what better way to see a life but through the children we leave behind? "You use to tell me when I go don't cry, don't be sad, just always remember that I love you and I will always be right next to you! I know you love me and I can feel you next to me but I am crying and I will be sad! We are very lucky to call you our Maima! I love you and will miss you so much!" ~ Kelly, granddaughter "Maima, you were a class act that held the room every time you entered; I will forever remember that. You taught me how to tell a story, embody the society lifestyle and always want more. You pushed me to follow my dreams by increasing your expectation of me and challenged me to really believe in myself, to prove that I WILL be what I wanted the most. Your stories will live on. And you will be loved. Listening to Frank, making a sauce from scratch, eating crumb cake and drinking an ice cold Pepsi." ~ Mitchell, grandson "This is for my beautiful grandmother, Maima. You taught us to never be less than the beautiful, strong women we were created to be. I will always strive to make you proud. You put dreams in my head every night when you tucked me in, and I will keep you in my dreams forever. Goodnight, Maima. We will miss you every day." ~ Kyla, granddaughter Mom was loved, no more than by her husband, Tony. They married as young 22 year olds after WWII. Mom worked after high school and they started their lives in Northern, New Jersey surrounded by family and friends; a huge circle that would gather to socialize at each other's homes. Sundays were family dinners, Nonna and Nonno and extended families from Italy would come over for the longest dinners on record. They lived a simple but elegant life together in New Jersey; the dress and style of the time, dinner parties and entertainment, family and friends at the center. The stories our mother would tell of her youth, summers in the Schooley Mountains with her grandmother, were her favorite to re-tell. They were amazing stories of adventure but most importantly, about her relationship with her grandmother, who was one of the most influential relationships in our mother's life. She would often say how much she wanted to be more like her, strong and independent. As you can read by her grandchildren's thoughts, Mom's influence was just as strong. Mom lived a full life, nothing worthy of headlines, but a quiet, elegant existence centered around family and friends, raising her children with pride and encouragement and nurturing her grandchildren through their formative years. We want to thank all of the family and friends who gather and remember Claire, Tony's wife, our mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Whatever we do after today, we will know that Claire is walking through the Schooley Mountains with her grandmother at her side, feeding the deer and then enjoying a cup of tea on the veranda in the early evening hour, chatting about the day. We are her family. Celebration of Life Service: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 ~ Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park and Funeral Home ~ 1-3 pm 2853 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater, FL www.SylvanAbbey.com