WEST SPRINGFIELD – Claire E. (Granger) Harper, 85, a longtime resident of West Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Monday, July 30, 2012. She passed into Eternal Life at Heritage Hall West in Agawam surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family and her wonderful caregivers. She was born in Holyoke on November 3, 1926, a beloved daughter of the late Henry and Laurancia (Yelle) Granger. She was raised and schooled in Holyoke and lived in the city for many years before moving to West Springfield around 1950. She previously worked at the Buxton Company in Agawam and had last worked in the cafeteria for the West Springfield School Department. During her leisure time, Claire enjoyed traveling and attending many local bingo games. She was a communicant of Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Springfield. She was a loving woman who adored her family and showered them with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Harold “Harry” Harper, who was Called Home on September 8, 2011. They were married in Easthampton on November 14, 1950 and were blessed with over 60 years of happiness together. She leaves: her loving children, Janice M. Paquette and her husband, Theodore, Angela Harper, Donna J. Dingman and her husband, Thomas, Harold G. Harper and his wife, Diane, and James G. Harper and his wife, Donna, all of West Springfield; her eight cherished grandchildren, Andrew and Matthew Paquette, Carrie Pouliot, Gregory and Haley Harper, Emily Hartmann, and Michael and Christopher Harper; her two cherished great-grandchildren, Mercedes Mitchell and Kaleb Mahaney; her dear brothers, Henry Granger of Norwich, CT and William Granger of Reno, NV; her dear sister-in-law, Katherine Dieter of Fort Lauderdale, FL; and her many dear nephews, nieces and extended family members. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her dear sister, Jeannette Brach. Her funeral will be held on Friday morning, August 3, 2012 at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107 (funeral home will open at 9:00 a.m.), which will be followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Her burial will follow the service at Oak Grove Cemetery, 426 Bay Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, August 2, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Her family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Saint George Cathedral Building Fund, 22 Saint George Road, Springfield, MA 01104.