Late Woburn Resident of 62 Years Was Puppeteer, Active Volunteer

The following obituary is from Douglass Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home.

Claire M. (Vigneau) Maher, a resident of Woburn for sixty-two years died on Friday, November 29, 2013 in the Woodbriar of Wilmington Nursing and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her loving family.

Claire celebrated her 100th birthday on November 9th. She was the beloved wife of the late George E. Maher. Claire was born in Everett on November 9, 1913. She was the daughter of the late George and Clara (Gerrior) Vigneau. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Melrose. Prior to making her home in Woburn, she had also resided in Melrose and Reading.

While raising her young family, she had worked as a secretary at the former Choate Hospital in Woburn for several years and as an assistant to the local librarian. One of her favorite tasks while at the library was to help the librarian put on puppet shows. Claire enjoyed making each of the puppets come to life with their own special personality.

She was an active member of the former St. Joseph’s Church in Woburn and also spent time serving as a Girl Scout Leader. She volunteered at the former Choate Hospital and Winchester Hospital for many years. Claire had a unique personality of her own that could be best described as feisty and fun loving. She loved watching plays, reading books, seeing movies and playing cards.

Claire was a cat lover and was known for taking in a stray cat and giving it a loving home. She had a love for cars from a young age and taught each of her sons how to drive.

Claire will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She is the devoted mother of Victor G. Maher and his wife, Maureen of Wilmington, Philip R. Maher and his wife, Priscilla of Reading and Jonathan F. Maher and his wife, Jody of Shrewsbury; loving grandmother of Sarah Connelly of Wolfeboro, NH, Joshua Maher of Reading and Jackson Maher of Shrewsbury; and great grandmother of Drew, Rebecca, Alexandra, Samantha and Jakob. She was also predeceased by her sister, Lorraine Bertelsen.