Obituary for Claire M. Hayden (McNamara)
Claire M. Hayden
May 15, 1925 - September 3, 2021
Claire McNamara Hayden, 96, passed peacefully at home on Friday, September 3, 2021 with her family by her side.
Claire was born on May 15,1925. She was the second daughter of James and Anna Slattery McNamara, joining her older sister Winifred. Born and raised in Syracuse, she came home from the hospital to the home she would live in for the rest of her life. Claire graduated from St. John the Baptist High School, where she met the special group of women who became known as the “Club Girls,” lifelong friends who gathered to play cards and catch up and continued to do so well into their 80s.
After high school Claire went to work for Syracuse Supply Company. She had a great love of music and sang with a group at the House of Providence. Singing remained an important part of her life, as she became a member of the Berwald Concert Singers and performed with them for more than 40 years. Her rendition of “Ave Maria” was requested by many of her friends at weddings and funerals.
Shortly after his WWII service ended, she met Edward Hayden. They were married in 1948 and had seven children. Claire became proficient at sewing, following the example of her mother, and enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family and friends. She returned to work at the United Way and was persuade by her boss there to follow him as his secretary to Syracuse University. From there she moved with her boss again to WCNY TV, serving as a secretary for Tel Auc for many years until her retirement at 70.
Claire never met a person she didn’t like. She became known as a second Mom to many of her children’s friends. Even when her children weren’t home, their friends continued to visit her. She was loving and welcoming to everyone and was without a doubt the strongest person we have ever met.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Edward, three sons: James, Robert, and Timothy, her daughter Claire, to whom she donated a kidney in 1966, and her sister Winifred Thornton Gates.
She is survived by her daughters Marcia (Philip Horan) and Kathleen and her son Richard (Catherine). She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Ryan (Rekha), Corey, Claire, and Marissa, and two great-grandsons, Taj and Niam. In addition, she leaves several nieces and nephews and many loving friends.
There will be no calling hours, and services will be private. A celebration of Claire’s life will be held at a later date. A gift in her memory may be made to Hospice of Central New York or the National Kidney Foundation.
Please share condolences at www.carterfuneralhome.com
May 15, 1925 - September 3, 2021
Claire McNamara Hayden, 96, passed peacefully at home on Friday, September 3, 2021 with her family by her side.
Claire was born on May 15,1925. She was the second daughter of James and Anna Slattery McNamara, joining her older sister Winifred. Born and raised in Syracuse, she came home from the hospital to the home she would live in for the rest of her life. Claire graduated from St. John the Baptist High School, where she met the special group of women who became known as the “Club Girls,” lifelong friends who gathered to play cards and catch up and continued to do so well into their 80s.
After high school Claire went to work for Syracuse Supply Company. She had a great love of music and sang with a group at the House of Providence. Singing remained an important part of her life, as she became a member of the Berwald Concert Singers and performed with them for more than 40 years. Her rendition of “Ave Maria” was requested by many of her friends at weddings and funerals.
Shortly after his WWII service ended, she met Edward Hayden. They were married in 1948 and had seven children. Claire became proficient at sewing, following the example of her mother, and enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family and friends. She returned to work at the United Way and was persuade by her boss there to follow him as his secretary to Syracuse University. From there she moved with her boss again to WCNY TV, serving as a secretary for Tel Auc for many years until her retirement at 70.
Claire never met a person she didn’t like. She became known as a second Mom to many of her children’s friends. Even when her children weren’t home, their friends continued to visit her. She was loving and welcoming to everyone and was without a doubt the strongest person we have ever met.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Edward, three sons: James, Robert, and Timothy, her daughter Claire, to whom she donated a kidney in 1966, and her sister Winifred Thornton Gates.
She is survived by her daughters Marcia (Philip Horan) and Kathleen and her son Richard (Catherine). She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Ryan (Rekha), Corey, Claire, and Marissa, and two great-grandsons, Taj and Niam. In addition, she leaves several nieces and nephews and many loving friends.
There will be no calling hours, and services will be private. A celebration of Claire’s life will be held at a later date. A gift in her memory may be made to Hospice of Central New York or the National Kidney Foundation.
Please share condolences at www.carterfuneralhome.com