Evelyn Cleary, 93, of Grand Street in Claremont, died Wednesday morning,
August 1, 2007 at the Sullivan County Health Care.
She was born in Claremont, NH on March 2, 1914 the daughter of Anton and
Ottine (Larsen) Pedersen. She began her schooling in Norway when the family
was on an extended visit there. Her teacher was the daughter of the man who
had been her father's teacher. Her schooling in Claremont began at Draper's
Corner School for first and second grades. She graduated from Stevens High
School in 1933 where she was Vice President of her class for four years.
She was active in basketball, chorus, field hockey and skiing. Evelyn
graduated from Keene Normal School in 1936 and spent a fourth year working
toward her Batchelder of Education.
Her first teaching position was in Westmoreland, after which she taught in
Sunapee and at Claremont's North Street School. Her next 34 years were
spent at Claremont Jr. High School where her Social Studies classes were
often involved in many innovative projects.
She was married to Francis "Frank" Cleary on Feb. 18, 1946. They shared
interests in: antiques, crafts, music, skiing and traveling. Their travels
took them, not only to eastern USA but to Hudson Bay and across Canada, The
British Isles, and several trips to Scandinavia. They often gave
illustrated lectures of their Scandinavian trips.
Beginning in 1952, trick or treaters have been signing their names in the
Cleary Halloween Guest Books. Depending upon the weather, "Guests" numbered
from 63 to 94. Some 4th generation family names are found in the volumes
which will be given to the Claremont Historical Society.
Letter writing was long a part of Mrs. Cleary's life. It was fostered in
the fourth grade at Pearl Street School when she acquired two Pen Pals: one
from Japan, the second from Scotland. The latter has continued a life time,
and included a personal meeting at Glasgow Airport on a stop-over on the way
to Scandinavia.
In 2000, Mrs. Cleary published a genealogy of her father's nine brothers and
two sisters. Five of those Pedersen families have been long-time Claremont
residents.
She was a member of the First Congregational Church, Stevens High School
Alumni Association, The Scandinavian Fraternity of America, The Historical
Societies of Claremont and Grafton, VT, Sullivan County Retired Educators
Association, AARP, Life Member of NH Retired Teachers Association.
Mr. Cleary died July 6, 1997.
The surviving family includes several cousins and numerous relatives in
Norway.
A graveside Service will be held Monday morning, August 6th at Eleven
O'clock in the West Claremont Burial Grounds in Union Cemetery with Rev. Dr.
Winn Alley, Pastor of the First Congregational Church, officiating.
There are no visiting hours, but there will be a gathering at the Church
following the graveside services.
The Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street is in charge of arrangements.
Her wishes where that donations may be given in her memory in lieu of flowers
to the music department of the First Congregational Church, 72 Pleasant
Street or the Homebound Program at the Fiske Free Library, 108 Broad Street
both in Claremont, NH 03743.