Claire A. (Harnois) Wingler

PALMER – Claire A. (Harnois) Wingler, 91, passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at the Quaboag Rehabilitation and Skill Care Center in West Brookfield surrounded by her loving family.

She leaves, her son, Robert Wingler of Sturbridge; her daughters, Diane Gervais and her husband Arthur of West Brookfield, Karen Mucha and her husband Robert of Ware, Elaine Sibley and her husband Louis of Bondsville, and Loretta Buelow and her husband Richard of New Orleans, LA; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Marion Harnois of Worcester; her sister-in-law, Margaret Harnois of Rhode Island; and many nieces and nephews.  Claire was predeceased by her husband Ernest Wingler; her siblings, Arthur, Clement, Cecilia, Alfred, and David Harnois and Jeanette Laplant.  She was born in Palmer, daughter of the late Edward and Edwardina (Brunelle) Harnois.

Claire attended school in Palmer and Hardwick before graduating from David Prouty High School in Spencer, class of 1944.  Following High School, during the remaining days of World War II, she worked for the Department of Defense at American Optical in Southbridge and then as a Civil Servant for the Pentagon decoding messages in Washington, D.C.  Her marriage to Ernest took place while she was in Washington and he was in the United States Army.  They travelled widely, living on several Army bases in the U.S. as well as bases in Germany during their marriage.

In later years Claire lived in Hardwick and worked at various Mills.  She found her calling as a Nurse in Rutland and at the Western Mass Hospital in Westfield, where she was privileged to serve terminally ill patients.

After retirement, Claire lived in Palmer and enjoyed being with her family there and in the surrounding area, as well as actively keeping up with those not in the area by telephone.  She loved flower gardens, walking in Stanley Park, where she took all of her grandchildren, and had an abiding interest in studying the Christian Bible, which helped her in caring for others.

A Funeral Mass for Claire will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 10:00 AM in the Church of the Divine Mercy, 2267 Main Street, Three Rivers.  Burial will follow the Mass in St. Anne's Cemetery.  Calling Hours will be held on Tuesday, September 18, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM in Charbonneau Funeral Home, 30 Pleasant Street, Ware.  

An online guest book is available at charbonneaufh.com.

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