DUDLEY – Claire L. (Ricard) Verdone, 70, died Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at home, surrounded by her loving family.
She leaves her companion of 18 years and husband of 24 years, Thomas W. Verdone; her son, Jason S. Regis of Dudley; her step-daughters, Carrie B. Verdone of Webster and Amy M. Verdone of Worcester; 10 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; a sister, Christine A. Kokernak and her husband Gary of Dudley; many nieces and nephews; her sisters and brothers in-law including Pauline and Arthur Daskowski and Johnna and Richard Lussier all of Webster; and her constant companion, her Australian Shepherd Reese. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Renee M. (Regis) MacGregor in 2017 and by her brother Gerard R. “Jerry” Ricard in 2022.
She was born in Webster on June 21, 1952, a daughter of Gerard H. “Joe” and Clairette A. (Martel) Ricard. She was a 1970 graduate of Bartlett High School. She lived in the Webster, Dudley and Thompson area her whole life.
Claire first worked as a housekeeper and then worked as an insurance commercial lines rater for both Commerce Insurance in Webster, and for Worcester Insurance Company which later became Harleysville Group and was taken over by Nationwide Insurance. She was also a part-time real estate agent with Bazinet Realty in Dudley. She retired in 2017.
She enjoyed her trips to Maine and Newport with Tom and Reese, gardening, planting flowers and reading. Her greatest joy was the time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Dr. Paul Richardson at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Dr. Siddiqui at Saint Vincent Hospital Cancer and Wellness Center, as well as special chemo nurses Brenda, Nancy and Amy. They would also like to thank the staff from Gentiva Hospice for their compassionate care of Claire.
Her funeral will be held Saturday, June 17, from the Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster, with a Mass at 11:30 AM in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 16 East Main Street, Webster. Burial will be private. A calling period will take place Saturday morning in the funeral home from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM prior to the Mass. The family requests donations in her memory may be made to The Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215.