31, 2005 at the home of her daughter on 17 Webster Avenue, Claremont,
surrounded by her family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Mary was born in Unity, NH on July 4, 1926, the daughter of Perley and Angie
Mae (Bean) Cole. She graduated from Towle High School, Newport, in June of
1944 and the Laconia Hospital School of Nursing in April of 1948, earning
her R.N. degree later that year. She married Rene J. Clairmont in 1948 and
moved to Claremont with her two children after their divorce in March, 1961.
In Claremont, she was first employed at the former Claremont General
Hospital, after which she worked for many years as an R.N. Night Supervisor
at the former McKerley Nursing Home in Claremont. She retired in 1993.
Caregiving, both personally and professionally, came naturally to Mary and
she did so with joy and grace. Her quiet manner and selfless ways touched
the lives of everyone with whom she came in contact. As her grandson,
Matthew, often said "Grammy was the true definition of a grand mother".
Mary greatly loved her entire family and was proud to have been able to
attend the high school graduations of all three of her grandchildren. She
enjoyed reading and taking day trips to the ocean. Mary loved spending time
at her daughter's home where they shared many precious years of gardening
and watching lots of beautiful birds, especially chickadees and cardinals,
which were her favorites. She was also fond of her daughter's assorted
cats, who also enjoyed watching the birds!
Mary was predeceased by her father Perley in 1970, her mother Angie in 1971,
a sister Florence Chase in 1981, and her brother Parker Cole in 2004.
Members of her surviving family include her son Michael Clairmont of
Gilford, NH, his wife Nancy and their daughter Hillary; her daughter
Stephanie Lessard of Claremont, her husband Roland, and their children
Megan of Middletown, MD and Matthew of Claremont. She is also survived by
one sister, Marguerite Hoskinson of Amelia, VA as well as nieces, nephews,
cousins, friends, former co-workers, and her special extended family in and
around the Laconia, NH area. Mary's inner strength and patience, as well as
her kind and loving ways, will continue to inspire the lives of all who knew
her.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts in her honor be
sent to the Mary Clairmont Nursing Scholarship Fund, % Sugar River Valley
Technical Center, 243 North Main St., Newport, NH 03773. This fund will
assist nursing students as they continue to pursue their career goals.
In keeping with Mary's wishes, a private graveside committal service was
held on Saturday, September 17, 2005 at Union Cemetery in Claremont with Fr.
Stanley J. Piwowar officiating. Arrangements were entrusted to the Stringer
Funeral Home. Mary would have smiled, knowing that her children and their
families were together to say, "Always and forever.until we meet again".