Claire P. Voelker, 84, of Waterbury, Vermont, formerly of Garden City, New York, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 27, 2012.
Born Claire Patricia Rose Craven on November 5, 1927, in Jamaica Queens, NY, she was raised by parents Blanche and Clarence with her sibling Blanche and cousins Robert and Bruce (McCarthy). The family resided briefly in Norwalk, Connecticut, before returning to New York in Flushing, Queens. Claire graduated from St. Agnes High School, Flushing, in 1944; Adelphi University in 1948; and completed her master’s in education from Adelphi in 1976. Claire taught elementary school at St. Raphael’s in East Meadow, NY, from 1969 to 1987.
On June 19, 1948, Claire married Robert Joseph Voelker Jr. at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Flushing. The couple resided in Cohoes, New Hyde Park and Farmingdale, NY, before settling down in Garden City at 3 Beech Street with their six children. Robert owned and operated the family real estate business in New Hyde Park. Bob and Claire were active, devoted members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Garden City. In later life, the couple moved to Waterbury, VT, with their daughter Patricia and son-in-law John.
Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher and friend, Claire enriched the lives of many through her kindness, generosity and passion for living. Claire loved her many friends and enjoyed spending time on Long Island laughing with them. She eagerly traveled throughout the Northeast to visit and spoil her seven grandchildren. “Noonie” always brought a smile.
Claire is survived by her children, Patricia Halloran, Jo Ann Tacchi, Robert Voelker III, Peter Voelker, John Voelker and Charles Voelker; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Jennifer, Rachel, Daniel, Robert, Carolyn and Andrew; five great-grandchildren, Barrett, Connor, William, Emmett and Lillian, and her “other children” (spouses) Mike, John, Dawn and Kim. In addition, she leaves behind many whose lives she has touched and will be remembered for her gentle personality, signature intelligence and extraordinary sensitivity.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated from St. Andrew Catholic Church, 109 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT, on Wednesday, February 1, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) and/or Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641, (www.cvhhh.org). To send online condolences visit at www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.
