WEST BOYLSTON
Grace Evelyn (Howe) Klar, a resident of West Boylston for more than 65 years, passed away January 22 at the Oakdale Nursing Home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She will be missed especially by her family and friends, and remembered for her contagious smile and loving, caring nature. Those acquainted with her know that she never met a stranger.
Grace was born in Lowell, MA on April 14, 1920 to Ernest E. and Martha L. (Tibbetts) Howe, the second of their two daughters. She spent her childhood in North Billerica, MA, and was a vibrant, bright child with red hair, freckles, blue eyes, and was a self proclaimed “tom boy.” She loved to sketch in pencil or pen, using whatever available scrap of paper she could find. She also learned to play the violin, and performed duets with her sister, Eleanor, on Sunday afternoons for their parents
She pursued her interests in art and music in college, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell in 1942. She was an accomplished violinist as well as a vocalist. A third generation teacher, she taught music and art in the West Boylston schools. She married John Klar on May 13, 1944 in Corpus Christi, Texas, where John was stationed at the U. S. Navy Radio School.
They returned to West Boylston in the fall of 1945 when they purchased their home from John’s uncle and made it their homestead, as it has remained for over 60 years. They started their family in 1946, which grew to four children by 1954. Although Grace was considered a “stay at home mom,” she was never content to just stay at home. Once her family was growing and she had spare time, she volunteered in the community and church. She loved to sew and do crafts, and helped organize many fairs at the First Congregational Church, where she also led the Junior Choir. Grace was a charter member of both the Beaman Oak Garden Club and the West Boylston Historical Society and also helped out both the Girl and Boy Scout organizations, as her children became involved. She was an elected town official serving as a Trustee of the Beaman Memorial Library for 35 years.
Her involvement in the Historical Society was the perfect venue for her to display her passion for history and art. A direct descendant of three families on the Mayflower, Grace studied her family’s history and learned as much as she could about her ancestors. A strong ‘Yankee’ spirit has always been her backbone, something she instilled in her children. It also provided the forum she needed to help campaign to restore the Old Stone Church. Knowing it was a valuable piece of the town’s history, she became a spokesperson for the cause, and campaigned state and local officials via personal contact and the media to stress the importance of its preservation. In later years, she would volunteer to give history walks around West Boylston, telling the stories of the various buildings and points of interest to both history buffs and school children.
Grace is survived by her children, Diana E. (Klar) Williams and husband James R. Williams of Loveland, CO, John W. Klar and wife Joyce (Cournoyer) Klar of Englewood, FL, Gretchen H. (Klar) Beaupré and husband Marc E. Beaupré of Goshen, MA, and Bradford R. Klar and wife Robin (Toft) Klar of Princeton, MA; nine loving grandchildren, Heather E. Balmat, Robert E. Balmat IV and wife Amy, Adrienne L. Beaupré, Emilie H. Beaupré and husband Peter Vile, Rachel G. Beaupré, Jason C. Klar, Amanda J. Klar, Samuel P. T. Klar and wife, Diana, and Peter H. T. Klar; and one great-grandchild, Peyton J. Sauer. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Eleanor (Klar) Martin and Barbara (Lovell) Harmon, as well as several nieces and nephews. Grace is predeceased by her husband of 62 years, John Klar, her sister, Eleanor (Howe) Homeyer, and their parents.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the staff at the Oakdale Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center who compassionately cared for Grace in the last 11 years of her life.
A committal service will be held at the Mount Vernon cemetery at 10:30am on February 9, 2008 followed by a celebration of life service at 11:00am at the First Congregational Church, Worcester Street, West Boylston. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the West Boylston Historical Society, 65 Worcester Street, West Boylston, MA 01583, the Beaman Memorial Library, or the Alzheimer’s Association at 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. Fay Brothers Funeral Home, 1 West Boylston Street, West Boylston, is directing arrangements.