WORCESTER: Claire C. (Johnson) Kirkpatrick, 94 of Worcester passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at Christopher House with her devoted family by her side. She was just 3 weeks shy of her 95th birthday.
Claire was born in Marlborough on May 6th , 1927, to Lillian (Bonin) Johnson and Aaron P Johnson. When she was a child, her parents moved the family to Worcester where she lived for the remainder of her life Claire attended St Joseph’s Grammar School and graduated from St Stephen’s High School in 1945.
When WWII ended, she began dating the ‘boy next door’- Richard Kirkpatrick. He taught her to play the guitar so that they could play country music together.
On September 20, 1952, Claire and Richard were married at St Joseph’s Church and raised their two children in the Kirkpatrick family home. Claire was a loving and devoted stay-at-home mom until her children left the home. She then obtained certification as a Nurse’s Aide and worked at many of the area nursing homes until her retirement. Her hobbies included drawing, reading, scrap booking, crochet, sewing and cross stitch, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and collecting historical dolls.Claire loved animals. She welcomed almost any kind of pet (including her beloved pot-bellied pig) into the home.
Claire is survived by her son Michael Kirkpatrick (Rita), a daughter Nancy Kirkpatrick, a grandson Stephen Acquista (Rosa) and four great-grandchildren: Brooklyn, Cyrus, Carmyne, and Skylar Acquista as well as cousins, nieces and nephews. Her great grandchildren brought her so much joy and happiness.
Claire was the final survivor of the nuclear Johnson family. Her sisters: Sylvia Greenfield, Laura Chaput, Yvonne Zonia, Alice Johnson (infant) and brother Robert (Bob) Johnson predeceased her.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the staff on the Putnam Unit at Christopher House and the team from JHC Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of Claire. She loved being at Christopher House and enjoyed interacting with the staff there.
In keeping with Claire’s personal wishes, Dirsa-Morin Funeral Home is assisting the family. A period of visitation will be in the funeral home on Thursday, April 14, 2022 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am followed by a brief service. Claire will then be laid to rest next to her husband Richard at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton.