Clare E. Hemingway, 90, of Waterbury and formerly of Waitsfield, passed away in the comfort of her family at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin on Monday evening, July 16, 2012. Born in Waitsfield on December 12, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Clarence G. and Hattie (Boyce) Gallagher. Clare was previously married to Vern J. Hemingway.
Clare was a graduate of Waitsfield High School and, following her marriage, moved to California where she worked for the Department of Motor Vehicles and at the State Capital in the payroll department. With her growing family, Clare was busy as a working mom and in December of 1959, decided to move her family back to Vermont, residing in Waitsfield.
Always industrious and with a strong work ethic, Clare went to work at the Mad River Barn, the Sig Buchmire Ski Shop, the Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Joslin Round Barn Farm as well as the former Orr’s Ark. In 1965, she became employed at the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles in Montpelier as a data entry supervisor and retired in 1986.
Clare’s family lovingly remembers her strong commitment and dedication to her family, her creative gifts in quilting and knitting and her stalwart support of the Boston Red Sox. She was a longtime member of the Red Hat Society. Clare was a single mother for many years and she worked hard to provide both financial security and a warm and caring home.
Clare is survived by her daughters, Kim Mason and her husband Michael of Waterbury Center and Mary Ellen Petersen and her husband Bruce of Bend, OR; six grandchildren, Heather Allen of Waterbury, Gabe Mason of Tukwila, WA, Gregg Mason of Moretown, Travis Petersen of Phoenix, AZ, Terrill Petersen and Grace Petersen, both of Bend, OR; two great-grandchildren, Lindsey and Chase Langdon of Waterbury; two sisters, Alice McCarthy of Deltona, FL, and Jean MacDonald of Waterbury; two brothers, Robert Gallagher of Moretown and Clarence P. Gallagher of Daytona, FL; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Clare was predeceased by her son Mark R. Hemingway, brother Norris Gallagher and sister Ruth Jones.
Memorial services will be held from the Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Monday, July 23, 2012, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Inurnment will take place in the Irasville Cemetery in Waitsfield. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Waterbury Area Senior Citizens Center, 14 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT 05676. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.
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