Claire M. Dufresne, 96, formerly of Manville and Cumberland, passed away peacefully Saturday evening November 9, 2024 at Royal Westerly Health Care Center in Westerly. She was the loving wife of the late Leo E. Dufresne. Claire and Leo were married in 1946 and shared over 45 wonderful years mutually devoted to each other until his passing in 1991.
Born and raised in Manville she was a daughter of the late Laure and Yvonne (Bibeault) Menard. Her father passed away at young age and Claire was the stepdaughter of the late Zephirin Gouin.
A lifelong communicant of St. James Parish, Claire was educated at St. James School and went on to attend Hill Business College in Woonsocket. Her earlier years saw her working at Swift Company as a bookkeeper. She was later employed at Manville Pharmacy for many years until its closure and then worked for CVS until her retirement in 1999. Claire was known to legions of folks as the friendly and caring face at Manville Pharmacy.
An active and outgoing lady Claire was a member of the YMCA Senior Club, the Jenkswood Tenants Association and the Cranston and Woonsocket Senior Citizens Clubs. Claire was a longtime parish volunteer at St. James and a member of Les Dames de St. Anne parish sodality.
Claire was a musically gifted person as she performed playing piano and singing. She kept active well into her later years walking upwards of three miles per day and participating in the Senior Olympics, for which she was awarded several first place prizes.
Claire was truly in her element on the dance floor. She absolutely embraced the opportunity to dance the night away and became quite adept at ballroom dancing. Give her a chance and Claire could compete with the best of them on the national dance shows.
Claire enjoyed a number of memorable trips throughout Europe, especially Italy, and around the United States. Closer to home and true to her Ocean State roots Claire took to the waterways of Narragansett Bay aboard a sailboat for a beautiful day on the water.
Claire will be remembered her outgoing and friendly persona. She was a loving mother and her role as Memere to her grandchildren and great- grandchildren was her source of never-ending joy.
Claire is survived by her son Roland Dufresne and his wife Dianne of Westerly and her daughter Reinette Remillard and her husband Andre of New River, AZ. She was the mother-in-law of the late Paul Grondines who passed away in 1984. She was the sister of Marcel Menard and his late wife Germaine of Lincoln. Claire is also survived by her grandchildren Avril, Jacques, Christopher and Jennifer Dufresne, Rebecca and Justin Remillard and their spouses and many great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews and their families.
All are invited to gather to honor, remember and pray for Claire at her funeral Thursday November 14, 2024 from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 71 Central St. Manville followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 am in St. James Church, Division St. Manville. Claire will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband Leo and son-in-law Paul at St. James Cemetery, Manville. Visiting hours Thursday morning from 8:30-9:30 am, prior to Mass, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, and in recognition of the excellent care their mother received, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to Harmony Hospice RI, 931 Jefferson Blvd. Warwick, RI. 02886 or www.harmonyhospiceri.com
www.menardfuneralhome.com