She was born Oct. 26, 1937, in Biddeford, the daughter of Fernand R. and Rachel (Croteau) Barra. She was educated locally and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in the Class of 1955.
On Sept. 3, 1955, she married the love of her life, Jean Robert Nadeau, at St. Joseph’s Church in Biddeford.
Claire was a member of St. Philip’s Church in Lyman; she was also a member of the VFW. and DAV Auxiliaries, where she held office from secretary to state commander in the DAVA and state president in the VFWA. She traveled all over the world with her husband. During that time she was instrumental in the Girl Scouts in Berlin, Germany.
Claire was devoted to her family and her church. For her, nothing made her happier than to spend time sharing memories, laughing and playing with her family. Her last wish was to spend Christmas one more time with her family, which she did. Once she was no longer able to attend church, she faithfully said her rosary nightly with Sr. Angelica and received communion weekly brought to her by Denis Davis, Eucharistic Mminister from St. Phillips.
She was preceded in death by: Jean Robert, her husband of 42 years; on June 30, 1998; also by daughters, Marie Nadeau in 1960, and Jeanne Cole in 2001; and her son-in-law, Scott W. Dixon, on Dec. 16, 2015.
Claire is survived by: a son, Robert J. Nadeau of Newfield; two daughters, Theresa J. Blaisdell of Peyton, Colorado, and Priscille Dixon of Newfield; son-in-law, Edward Cole of Lyman; sister, Helen Plaugher and her husband, Larry of Sarasota, Florida; six grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Philip’s Church, Lyman. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford 11 a.m. Saturday.
To share condolences online, please visit HopeMemorial.com. Donations in Claire’s memory may be made to kidney.org/donate or mailed to American Kidney Foundation Finance Department, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016 or to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. BOX 758516, Topeka, KS 66675.
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