Claire Beatrice (Lemieux) Churchill, 84, of Millbury, formerly of Franklin, passed away February 7 in the Care One Nursing Home surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was the wife of the late Arthur L. Churchill, who passed in 2010 and her first husband Theodore D. Tetreault, who passed in 1969.
Born in New Bedford, October 13, 1935, the daughter of the Antonio and Alice (Bouchard) Lemieux, Mrs. Churchill was raised in New Bedford and lived in Franklin where she brought up her family for many years. In retirement, she then lived in Southbridge for several years with her husband Arthur.
An avid homemaker, Claire loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren, especially when she could feed them with a home cooked meal.
Claire had a love for writing and directing plays, and many of her plays were performed at the St Mary’s Church in Franklin. Claire also enjoyed sewing and knitting many different items for charities. Claire spent the last years of her life at Care One Nursing Home in Millbury, where she enjoyed visits from her family and friends, especially her brother-in-law Robert Churchill (“Uncle Bobby”) who would lite-up Claire and the entire staff and residents with his smile and kindness.
She is survived by her sons, Matthew Tetreault and his wife Rory of Sterling, Virginia and Gene Tetreault and his wife Mauri of Sutton, Massachusetts and her grandchildren, Emily & Adam Ryba, MaryEllen, Jacquelyn and Joseph. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Arthur Jr., Thomas, John, Mark, Maureen Dowdey, Joan Hale, the late Sandy Doobovsky, their 13 children, and 7 grandchildren.
Her Wake will be held on Wednesday February 12th from 5-8 pm, at the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 131 Main Street.
Her funeral Mass will be held at St Mary’s Church, Franklin on Thursday February 13th at 10:00 am, followed by her burial at Sacred Heart New Cemetery in New Bedford, MA. at 12:30 pm that same day for those who wish to attend.
In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation may be made in Claire’s memory to the Epilepsy Foundation (https://www.epilepsy.com/).