Claire M. Milette

Wales, Massachusetts - Claire M. (Chapdelaine) Milette was born December 6, 1925, in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She was married to the late Leo A. Milette. They were blessed with four children: Suzanne Becker (Rick), Paul G. Milette (Anne), Judi Doyle (Sean), and Liz Macon (Charlie). Claire’s family was the center of her life. She enjoyed spending time with her children, and eight grandchildren: Joe, Chris, Anne, Tim, Andrew, Pete, Dylan and Nicole, and great grandchild: Claire. 

 Claire was pre-deceased by parents, George F. and Eva R. Chapdelaine, her husband, Leo A. Milette, her sister, Audrey Szlachetka, her brothers, Albert Chapdelaine and Carmino Albano and grandson, Joe Macon.

 Claire graduated from Holy Name High School and Elms College. She also attended Hampden College of Pharmacy and the University of Massachusetts. She taught several years at George S. Taylor School in Chicopee after which she was certified in library science and appointed to establish libraries in several of the Chicopee schools. 

 Claire held library director positions in Wales, Brimfield and Holland, Massachusetts. She was also the librarian at Wales Elementary where she later continued to work in the school library as a volunteer until she was 80 years old. Her love of books and dedication to libraries continued when she moved to assisted living at The Reserve in East Longmeadow where she established an extensive collection of books for the residents and staff and made books available to everyone she met. She was affectionately called, “Our Librarian.”

 A dedicated and prolific writer, Claire kept journals during her entire adult life, writing stories and remembering incidents from her childhood and the Depression. Several of these stories have been captured in books she has self-published including The Peculiar Pumpkin and The Sunday Coat.

 Claire was a parishioner at St. Christopher’s Church in Brimfield and St. Patrick’s Church in Monson for many years. She was faithful to Bible study with friends in the area. Claire was dedicated to her family. Some of her favorite times were at Lake George in Wales, MA and family vacations at the beach on Cape Cod.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8 KJV

A session of visitation for Claire will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday, February 28, 2025 beginning at 9:00 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Patrick's Church in Monson at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at St. Aloysisus Cemetery, in Springfield. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Claire’s memory to the Brimfield Public Library, P.O. Box 377, Brimfield, MA 01010.