Claire (Ferland) Ryan WINDSOR, Vt. — Claire Flora (Ferland) Ryan went into the arms of our Lord on Dec. 9, 2020, at The Village at Cedar Hill in Windsor, Vermont, after a period of declining health, with her loving husband, Harry, by her side. She was born on Sept. 4, 1929, in North Troy, Vermont, the fourth child of Emery and Antoinette (Arel) Ferland. Claire attended St. Mary schools and on Oct. 2, 1948, she and Harry W. Ryan were married in the St. Mary Church in Claremont. Claire was a stay-at-home mom for her children and did child day care for others. She also worked retail and waitressed. Claire and Harry resided in Claremont until 2003 when they moved into a new home in Charlestown. In Charlestown, they were both very active in the Charlestown Senior Center and they attended the St. Catherine Church. They moved to The Village at Cedar Hill in 2017 and continued to attend St. Catherine until it became too much for them. Claire was a skilled seamstress and she loved to quilt, knit and crochet. She knitted hundreds of caps for preemie babies for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital, and many family members and friends have quilts that she made for them. She and Harry spent many hours together making quilts in the basement of their home in Charlestown. One day, she saw some Ukrainian decorated eggs and decided to learn to paint them. She made some beautiful eggs, mostly self-taught and also taught others. She was a loving wife and mother and in addition to the love of her life, Harry, she leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Linda Brown and her husband, Earl, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; and her son, William and his wife, Cheryl, of Claremont. She is also survived by three grandsons, Jeffrey Brown and Sue of Ellington, Connecticut, Kipp Ryan and Tammy of Claremont and Tim Ryan and Stacey, also of Claremont; and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Simonne Wojtowicz, Henry Ferland and Donald Ferland; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Alfred; and sisters, Rolande St. Pierre, Rita Fleury and Annette Tebo. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at The Village at Cedar Hill who took such good care of her for the past three years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions in Claire’s name may be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are with Stringer Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 146 Broad St., Claremont, NH 03743. To view an online memorial or send a private message of condolence, visit www.stringerfh.com.
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