Claire M. Ramsay

Claire Dame Ramsay, 89, died peacefully on Tuesday, August 5th, surrounded by her family, at Pleasant View Center, after a period of failing health.

She was born in Concord, New Hampshire on September 19, 1924, in one of the houses owned by her grandparents located at 204 North State Street, which is now the Gas Lighter Restaurant. She was the only child of the late Gertrude (Johnson) and Walter Dame. In 1926, at the age of 2, she moved with her parents to a newly built home at 8 K Street in West Concord where she resided until 2011.

A lifelong resident of Concord, she graduated from Concord High School in 1942. She worked for several departments for the State of New Hampshire, before joining WFEA radio station in Manchester as their staff vocalist. She had her own radio show singing live with the WFEA band and was known as the “Girl with the Golden Voice”. While at the radio station, she also sang as the band vocalist with the Ted Herbert Orchestra from Manchester, which at that time was considered to be the best dance band in New Hampshire.

Claire, an 11th generation American, was extremely proud of her New Hampshire roots as her ancestor, John Dam arrived in Dover, New Hampshire in 1623. At the Woodman Museum in Dover there is a garrison (house) built by John Dam for his son, in 1675. It was amusing to her that the spelling of Dame changed from Dam to Damme to Dame because the Puritan’s did not like the sound of the name Dam.

On August 21, 1948, she married a Concord High School classmate, Ray Ramsay and they lived at 8 K Street until 2011 when they moved to Granite Ledges Assisted Living of Concord. They were married for 63 years until Ray’s death November 19, 2011. In April 2012, Claire moved to Pleasant View Center and lived there until her death.

Claire was a homemaker, staying home to raise their three children. When her children were in school, she worked part time for 9 years for the City of Concord as a school crossing guard and then later for a couple of years as a teller at New Hampshire Savings Bank.

Her Catholic faith was most important to her and was her guide throughout her life. She was a devoted life long member of St. Peter Church, a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Guild at the Carmelite Monastery.

She is survived by a daughter, Linda Toumpas and her husband, Nick of Rye, NH; a daughter Kit Andrews of Nashua, NH; and a son, Robert Ramsay of Concord; and three grandchildren, Jay M. Andrews of Los Angeles, CA, Robert J. Andrews of Seattle, WA and Leah A. Toumpas of Rye, NH.

The family wants to thank Pleasant View Center staff for the outstanding care and compassion given to Mom and for the support and guidance given to her family during her stay.

SERVICES: A calling hour will be held on Monday, August 11 from 9:30 to 10:30 am, at the Bennett Funeral Home, 209 N. Main Street, in Concord. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am at Christ the King Parish St. Peter Church, 135 North State Street, Concord. Committal prayers and interment will follow at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 275 Pleasant St., Concord or Christ the King Parish St. Peter’s Church.

Arrangements under the direction of Bennett Funeral Home, Concord, NH.