Of Stoneham, beloved wife of the late Edward (Harry) Robbins died January 21, 2011 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. She was the daughter of the late William Allin and Mary Sheridan.
A 1943 graduate of St. Patrick’s High School’s last all-female class, Claire worked at Winn’s in Woburn, and then went on to Brigham’s and Grant’s in Stoneham. After she married in 1947, she went on to be a baker for the cafeterias of the Stoneham Public School system. With her husband Harry, Claire enjoyed a love of dancing and Big Band. In her later years, Claire took up knitting and crochet. A piano player who was proud to have an organ in her home later in life, she had a love of music and singing, which she passed on to her granddaughter. Always a loyal friend with a great love of family, Claire enjoyed entertaining and spending time with those she loved.
A devout parishioner of St. Patrick’s Church in Stoneham, Claire was a Eucharistic Minister, a member of Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Charismatic Prayer Community, the Bereavement Committee, and the Festival Choir. For years, Claire provided hundreds of homemade rosaries to the youth ministry on their trips to Peru, Confirmation students, and to the parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church.
Claire is survived by her daughters Elizabeth (Betty) Ericksen and Christine Hiltz; her sister Edna Allin; granddaughter Jill Ericksen; grandsons Donald (III), Edward, and Eric Hiltz; great granddaughters Ashleigh and Maddison; cousins Anna Dalton and Ann Shaughnessy; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Claire was preceded in death by her sisters Mildred Chopyak, Mary Zak, and Marion Sutermeister, and her brothers George and William Allin.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 24, 2011 at Barile Family Funeral Home 482 Main St. Stoneham from 3 pm to 7 pm. Funeral mass celebrating Claire’s Eternal Life to be held Tuesday, January 25 at 9 am at St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St. Stoneham. Internment to follow at Lindenwood Cemetery, Stoneham.
To honor Claire you may make donations in her memory to the Hallmark Health Visiting Nurses Association/Home Health Care, Office of the Executive Director, 178 Savin Street, Suite 300, Malden, MA 02148. To send a memorial condolence, visit
barilefuneral.com.