Claire (Rocheleau) Bancroft passed away on Thursday December 14, 2023 having lived a long life filled with faith and family. Born in New Bedford, MA, the middle daughter of Henry and Irene Rocheleau, she married Arthur D. Bancroft, Jr. just shy of her 20th birthday. With her husband, she raised four children and lived an extraordinary life.
From humble beginnings, Claire and her husband would travel to many parts of the world, with a favorite place being Switzerland, where they would stay for months at a time. Over the years, family vacations brought everyone together to create memories for a lifetime.
Claire celebrated her grandchildren’s accomplishments and continued to do so with her great-grandchildren. She will be missed dearly, but her memory will live on as stories are shared with laughter and tears.
Claire is survived by her sister, Irene Bancroft, and husband, Donald of North Dartmouth, as well as her daughters Diane (Bancroft) Zuspan (Jay) of Washington, D.C., and Laurie (Bancroft) Mandly (James) of Juno Beach, FL. She is also survived by her daughter in law, Vicki Abbott Bancroft, of South Dartmouth and her son in law, William H. Verrochi of Berkley. She is predeceased by her husband, Arthur D. Bancroft, Jr., her son, Attorney Stephen P. Bancroft, and her daughter, Carol (Bancroft) Verrochi.
Claire leaves a beautiful legacy of nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and a large, extended, loving family to cherish her memory of a life well-lived.
Claire’s services will be in the care of the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, with visiting hours at the funeral home on Wednesday January 3, 2024, from 3-6 pm and a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated on Thursday January 4, 2024, at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 121 Mt. Pleasant St., New Bedford at 10 am. Burial will be private at St. Columba’s Cemetery in Middletown, RI, where she will be laid to rest with her husband. Donations in her memory may be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 121 Mt. Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, to help the poor and those in need. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.