Obituary of Claire Croke

Claire M. (Reardon) Croke, passed away at her home in Milford, on Tuesday morning, January 19, 2016. The beloved wife of the late Charles J. Croke, who passed away in 2001, she was 86 years old. Claire was born in Medford. She was raised and educated in Newton. After high school Claire went to work as an Administrative Assistant at John Hancock in Boston. Claire and her husband Charles moved to Burlington in 1955 where they would raise their four children. Claire and Charles were a family of deep catholic faith. They were members of the original Mr. & Mrs. Club which was a social club at St. Margaret’s. They were also very involved in the building of the new St. Margaret’s Church which would open in 1958. Their son Joseph was born with special needs. Claire was devoted to making sure that Joseph had a wonderful life. She taught him all his prayers and he was able to receive his first communion at St. Margaret’s which was quite an accomplishment for Claire and meant so much to Joseph. Joseph not only had special needs but he was also diagnosed with Leukemia. Devoted to her son Claire took weekly trips into Dana Farber with Joseph. Sadly Joseph passed away at the age of 8. Claire was a very unique and special woman. During her younger days she was an avid skier and she would take the train from Boston to North Conway just to be able to ski! She loved to cook and bake. Her home was always open to her children’s friends who were always anxious to see what was in Mrs. Croke’s kitchen. After her children were grown she went back to work at John Hancock taking the bus daily from Burlington to Boston. Claire was also a talented painter. She started out with oil painting and then widened her horizon to include watercolors. During their retirement years Claire and Charles moved from Burlington to Fort Lauderdale Florida. They eventually returned to Massachusetts to live their daughter Rosemary in Medway. Claire became the “neighborhood grandmother” and was loved by all her grandchildren’s friends. Claire was blessed to be an important part of her six grandchildren’s lives, see four of them marry and to become a great grandmother to Alicia and John. Claire was the beloved wife of the late Charles J. Croke. She was the loving mother of Robert Croke of Wilmington, Rosemary O’Callahan & her husband Thomas of Milford, formerly of Medway, Carol Boldt & her husband John of Sabattus, ME and the late Joseph. Sister of Edward Reardon of FL and the late Marjorie Hannigan and Robert Reardon. Proud grandmother of Tom O’Callahan, Brian O’Callahan & his wife Caroline, Patrick O’Callahan & his wife Lisa, Michael O’Callahan & his wife Elizabeth, Suzanne Hughes & her husband John and Jeanette Croke. Great Grandmother of Alicia & John. Mother-in-law of Alice Croke of Burlington. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Monday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Claire’s name may be made to the Knights of Columbus – Exceptional Children’s Fund, PO Box 25, Burlington, MA 01803 or Dana Farber Cancer Institute – Jimmy Fund, Contribution Services, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.