Obituary for Claire Powers MacLean
Claire Powers MacLean
October 26, 1927 to August 22, 2020
The youngest of the nine children of William Claire Powers and Irene Thompson Powers of Providence, Rhode Island, Claire AKA Clare, regretted her parent’s decision to not name her Marcy. Nevertheless, she overcame that injustice and went on to enjoy a fulfilling childhood surrounded by a pantheon of siblings. She and her brother Billy (closest in age) grew up palling around the city with their friends and generally had free reign to find adventure in their Montague Street neighborhood. Summers spent at Rumstick Point in Barrington offered opportunities for swimming, sailing and long summer days with brothers, sisters, cousins, lots of friends and eventually, lots of nieces and nephews.
Clare attended Providence Public Schools graduating from Hope High School with the class of ’45. She went on to attend the former Westbrook Junior college in Portland Maine, earning the nickname Cricket and graduating in 1947. Time spent in secretarial school put her on a path to job opportunities spanning over 60 years.
While exploring new horizons in Boston she shared an apartment with a new group of friends, taking the place of Shirley Fielding who had married her brother Bill. It wasn’t long before serendipity played its hand and George MacLean, a painter, Boston native and newspaper artist walked into her world. George and Clare enjoyed a whirlwind courtship and in February of 1953 they eloped and were married in Boston with Bill and Shirley by their side.
After a short time in Maine Clare and George moved to Rhode Island, followed by several moves up and down the Eastern Seaboard, until finally settling in Rhode Island with their children Lindsay and George.
When Clare was finally able to work outside of the home her career paths took her to a variety of venues, ultimately the most satisfying would be the Athletic Department at Brown University and the Providence Athenaeum. Both suited her quick mind and spirited social disposition right down to the ground.
Clare’s last years were spent in Hamden, Connecticut with her childhood friend James Robertson and finally due to failing health, Cheshire Connecticut in long term care.
Clare is survived by her son George W. MacLean, his wife Cory MacLean, their children Emily and Kathleen MacLean her daughter Lindsay Shaw her children Georgia and Charlie Shaw, Georgia’s wife Martha Fan, great grandson Arlo Tzu Fan-Shaw, her brother William C. Powers, her nieces and nephews, their families and countless friends.
We wish to thank all the dedicated second floor nurses and aids at Cheshire Regional Rehab for their unfailing care, compassion and good humor. Each of you in your own way made our mother’s last days so much brighter. We can never thank you enough.
A memorial celebration of Claire’s life will be held at a future date when it is safe to fearlessly gather with family and friends. Donations in her memory may be made to Books Are Wings, 1005 Main st., Suite 8116, Pawtucket, R.I. 02860 ( https://www.booksarewings.org )
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October 26, 1927 to August 22, 2020
The youngest of the nine children of William Claire Powers and Irene Thompson Powers of Providence, Rhode Island, Claire AKA Clare, regretted her parent’s decision to not name her Marcy. Nevertheless, she overcame that injustice and went on to enjoy a fulfilling childhood surrounded by a pantheon of siblings. She and her brother Billy (closest in age) grew up palling around the city with their friends and generally had free reign to find adventure in their Montague Street neighborhood. Summers spent at Rumstick Point in Barrington offered opportunities for swimming, sailing and long summer days with brothers, sisters, cousins, lots of friends and eventually, lots of nieces and nephews.
Clare attended Providence Public Schools graduating from Hope High School with the class of ’45. She went on to attend the former Westbrook Junior college in Portland Maine, earning the nickname Cricket and graduating in 1947. Time spent in secretarial school put her on a path to job opportunities spanning over 60 years.
While exploring new horizons in Boston she shared an apartment with a new group of friends, taking the place of Shirley Fielding who had married her brother Bill. It wasn’t long before serendipity played its hand and George MacLean, a painter, Boston native and newspaper artist walked into her world. George and Clare enjoyed a whirlwind courtship and in February of 1953 they eloped and were married in Boston with Bill and Shirley by their side.
After a short time in Maine Clare and George moved to Rhode Island, followed by several moves up and down the Eastern Seaboard, until finally settling in Rhode Island with their children Lindsay and George.
When Clare was finally able to work outside of the home her career paths took her to a variety of venues, ultimately the most satisfying would be the Athletic Department at Brown University and the Providence Athenaeum. Both suited her quick mind and spirited social disposition right down to the ground.
Clare’s last years were spent in Hamden, Connecticut with her childhood friend James Robertson and finally due to failing health, Cheshire Connecticut in long term care.
Clare is survived by her son George W. MacLean, his wife Cory MacLean, their children Emily and Kathleen MacLean her daughter Lindsay Shaw her children Georgia and Charlie Shaw, Georgia’s wife Martha Fan, great grandson Arlo Tzu Fan-Shaw, her brother William C. Powers, her nieces and nephews, their families and countless friends.
We wish to thank all the dedicated second floor nurses and aids at Cheshire Regional Rehab for their unfailing care, compassion and good humor. Each of you in your own way made our mother’s last days so much brighter. We can never thank you enough.
A memorial celebration of Claire’s life will be held at a future date when it is safe to fearlessly gather with family and friends. Donations in her memory may be made to Books Are Wings, 1005 Main st., Suite 8116, Pawtucket, R.I. 02860 ( https://www.booksarewings.org )
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