Claire McAndrew Ward, of East Dennis, MA, born on December 7, 1933 in Fall River, MA to Jennie and James McAndrew, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2018 surrounded by her family. She was married for 58 years to Robert J. Ward, whom she married in in 1960 in Fall River, MA.
Claire had a long career as a registered nurse. She received her nursing degree from St. Luke’s School of Nursing and did her postgraduate training at Boston Lying-in Hospital. Claire worked in several areas including young adult health and occupational health, but her real love was obstetrical nursing. She will be forever be remembered for her devotion to her patients and to her nursing colleagues. After raising her family in East Hartford, CT and then Topsfield, MA she retired to Cape Cod and became an active member of the Garden Club. She enjoyed traveling and crafting and entertaining friends but her highest pleasures came with spending time with her family, especially her 14 grandchildren. Claire loved the Cape and was referred to as “Cape Cod Grammy” by many of her grandchildren.
Claire is survived by her husband Robert, her children and their families, Greg Ward and wife Eileen of Northborough, MA, Mary-Tara Ward of Newton, MA, Jennifer Joel and husband Peter of Chatham, NJ and Megan Brinzey and husband Christopher of Cohasset, MA. She leaves 14 grandchildren, Brian, Molly, P.J., Caitlin, Ian, Aedan, Dylan, Megan, Caroline, Ted, Moira, Maggie, Kiley, and Regan. Claire is also survived by her sister, Virginia Bradbury and husband William of Swansea, MA, her nephew Jay Badway and niece Barbara Avon and their children. Claire was preceded in death by her parents Jennie and James McAndrew, her sisters Ruth McAndrew and Margaret Badway and her nephew James Badway.
Friends and family will gather to celebrate Claire’s life on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 9:00am for a viewing at Doane, Beal, Ames, 729 Route 134, South Dennis, MA. A funeral service at 11:00am will follow at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, Brewster, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Claire to St. Jude’s Hospital: https://www.stjude.org. This was a charity that was special to Claire.
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