- Date Of Death: March 18, 2013
- State: New Jersey
Claire Kelly of Burlington died peacefully with her family by her side on March 18 at the Granville House in Burlington Twp. at the age of 89. Born and raised in Burlington, Claire was a member of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church and also of Fountain of Life Center.
With a soul, character, spirit and voice full of beauty, kindness and love, Claire was the most wonderful mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt, mother-in-law and friend. Her sense of humor, laughter and loving spirit will always be remembered – nothing made her happier than being surrounded by her family, with a dog by her side, treasuring all the times of just being together. Claire was a graduate of Burlington City High School 1941; St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing 1945; Glassboro State College; Clark Conservatory of Music in Philadelphia; school nurse at Burlington City elementary schools; member of the Burl. Co. School Nurses Association; RN Volunteer for the American Red Cross; member of Young at Heart’s Club.
Claire served as an ensign in the US Navy Nurse Corps. where she met and married Leo, a Navy pilot and the love of her life. Known as the “songbird” in high school, she was a gifted singer who lit up a room when she entered, greeting everyone with a song and always a smile. Her greatest passion in life was raising her seven children and being a wonderful grandmother to her three beloved grandsons. Running a close third was her love of ice cream. She was also an avid golfer, loved to play the piano and thoroughly enjoyed many days at the beach with her family. Her deep devotion and love of the Lord which radiated from her heart and touched many lives was the true essence of who Claire was – she had a special gift of helping people with her words and her compassion.
Claire stayed on this earth just long enough to celebrate her 89th birthday, not wanting to miss a party and hear her family’s laughter one last time before joining her husband Leo, who has watched over her from Heaven for the last 5 years. The family would like to express their special heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff at the Granville House for the wonderful care they provided their mother; they treated Claire as family and she cherished each one.
Claire is preceded in death by her beloved husband Leo Kelly; her parents Helen and Howard Hoover; sister Elizabeth Cherubini; brother Howard “Bud” Hoover. Claire is survived by her children Kathleen (John) Devlin of Mt. Laurel; Michelle (Dennis) Murray of Westampton; Nancy (Michael) Cordisco of New Hope, PA; Elizabeth (Joseph) Kennedy of Boston, MA; Leo T. Kelly of Burlington Twp; Teresa (Eugene) Terzano and son Michael of Mt. Laurel; Jacqueline (Kevin) Couch and sons Aiden and Sean of Cinnaminson.
