Claire T. (Nadeau) Denison

Claire T. (Nadeau) Denison, 92, passed away at home with her family by her side, on Monday, November 21, 2021.

Claire was born at the Farren Memorial Hospital in Turners Falls on May 25, 1929, the daughter of Dona and Irene (Dube) Nadeau. She graduated from Turners Falls High School in the class of 1947. The school yearbook accurately described Claire as a young woman with a modest manner and a kind heart, attributes that remained with her throughout her life.

After high school, Claire attended the Franklin County Public Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1950. She started her nursing career in Boston at the Boston City Hospital then continued on to the Boston Hospital for Women. After 4 years in the city, she returned to Western Mass and joined the Franklin County Public Hospital. Claire also provided in-home private-duty nursing which is how she met her future husband while caring for his grandfather. On September 3, 1955, she was married to Marshall L. Denison. Claire later continued nursing at the Franklin Nursing Home in Greenfield until her retirement.

     Claire loved the Colrain home she and Marshall built and raised their family in. The quiet Green River and the wildlife that was always close by made a peaceful home. Claire enjoyed tending to her garden, keeping the hummingbird feeder well supplied, and watching the birds and deer in her backyard. She spent over 60 years of her lifetime in Colrain and loved every minute of it. Only recently did she move to the Rockridge Community in Northampton, where she was happy to find and develop new friendships.

    Claire’s modest manner and kind heart will be missed by all who knew her.

    Claire’s loving family include her daughter, Christine Denison Bloom and her husband Fred of Hatfield, son Lee Denison and his wife Lisa of Colrain, four grandchildren; Hannah (Matt) Wzorek, Ben Israel, Scott (Cady) Denison, Megan Denison, and partner Sarah Wetmore, great-grandchildren; Jackson Barclay and Owen Marshall Wzorek and one on the way to Scott and Cady Denison. Claire also leaves sisters; June Samelson of PA and Lillian Niedbala of Gill as well as many nieces and nephews.

     In addition to her parents and her husband Marshall, Claire was predeceased by her sister Rose Daigle and brothers Marcel and Robert Nadeau.

     Services will be private at this time and a Celebration of Claire’s Life will be held in the spring.

Donations may be made in her memory to the West Leyden Cemetery c/o Herman Drost, North Green River Rd., Colrain, MA 01340

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