Claire Rousell ZACHARIAS

ZACHARIAS Claire Rousell Earth received an honored guest - Claire Rousell Zacharias is laid to rest. Claire died in the home of her daughter, Rayna Zacharias, and son-in-law Tom Barden, on September 24, 2011 surrounded by a large gathering of family and friends. She was born and raised in Dracut, Massachusetts in 1918, the youngest of six children. She lived for many years in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the hometown of her beloved husband Willman Zacharias, "Zach". She worked at Ludwig's Jewelers in Chambersburg as a decorator and saleswomen. In the early 1970s, she and Zach moved to the Quad Cities where Claire worked at the Opportunity Center for handicapped adults. In 1978, Claire and Zach retired to Venice, Florida where she was one of the founders of The Green Butterfly, a non-profit consignment shop that raised funds for the Loveland School for the Handicapped. Manisota Beach in Venice was one of Claire's favorite spots in the world. Claire made friends and fans everywhere she lived, including Toledo, where she moved to be close to Rayna and Tom at the age of 89. She became a "breath of fresh air" at Sunset House in west Toledo, where she was a regular at the piano playing for herself and the other residents and staff. Claire's magnificent life will be celebrated at Sunset House, 4020 Indian Road, Toledo on October 16th at 3 p.m. There will be poetry, music, and lots of stories about her life and times, her eventful music lessons, and her mother's wheat wine. Claire is survived by her son Scott Zacharias and daughter-in-law, Sue; her daughter, Rayna Zacharias and son-in-law, Tom Barden; her grandsons, Robert (Chelle) and Andrew (Beth) Zacharias, Zacharias, Matthias (Katherine) and Daniel Barden; her great-grand-children Zenora, Arwen, Niyve, Evan, Mason, and George, many nephews and nieces and her very best friend, Doris Sweezey of Venice Florida. In lieu of flowers, friends and loved ones may wish to make a donation in Claire's memory to Sunset House or to Hospice of Northwest Ohio and toast her with a glass of Chardonnay. As Claire would say "A Votre Santé."