Laconia-----Pearl P. (Clairmont) Brooks, 94, of 146 Eastman Road, died on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at home.
Pearl was born July 6, 1921 in Laconia, N. H., the daughter of Arthur and Evelyn (Zimmerman) Clairmont.
Pearl was born and grew up in the same house 516 Union Avenue in Laconia. She served as a corporal in the Women’s Army Air Corps in 1943-45. In 1945, Pearl met Harry Brooks, a private in the U.S Air Force from Boston, Massachusetts at a dance for Catholic young people. Pearl wanted to know “What’s a Jewish boy doing at a Catholic dance?” He said, to meet girls. And he did, he met the love of his life, Pearl. They were married for 69 years. Many said the marriage of a “big city Jewish boy” and Catholic girl from the country would never last, but they did. When Pearl and Harry married, she left the military and Harry stayed in, making it a career. Pearl moved with him to Florida, Panama, Ohio, Hawaii and New York with their children for the next 32 years, returning to Laconia. They purchased and ran Clairbrook Cottages on Weirs Blvd for 10 years and then retired again, becoming snowbirds, traveling between Tampa, Florida and Winnisquam for 30 years. After raising their children, Pearl volunteered at the Lakes Regions General Hospital and started the very successful New-To-You shop, a second-hand store to support Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Laconia. One more thing…Remember the house she was born in? She drove by it almost every day and never forgot to say, “Hello, House,” for over 50 years.
Pearl is survived by her son, Raymond (Pete) Brooks and his wife, Louise of Santa Maria, CA; two daughters, Pamela Brooks of Laconia and Paula Karl and her husband David of Laconia; eight grandchildren, Trichelle, Karan, Kristy, Jaime, Zachary, Samantha, Karla, and Jennifer; 21 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, her sister, Anne Spencer of Hampton, VA and three sisters-in-law, Judith Clairmont, Phylis Clairmont, both of Laconia and Gloria Blais of Franklin. In addition to her parents and 8 siblings, she was predeceased by her husband, Samuel H. Brooks who died in 2014.
There will be no calling hours.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 10:00am at St. Andre Bessette Parish - St. Joseph Church, 30 Church Street, Laconia NH.
Burial will be follow in the family lot in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Laconia.
For those who wish, the family suggest memorial donations may be made to New Hampshire Humane Society, PO Box 572, Laconia NH 03247.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.