1933
Claire
2020
Claire T. (Ford) Butler
January 4, 1933 — July 4, 2020
Claire Butler had three loves in her life, her family, her country and the game of baseball. The order of these is subject to interpretation but suffice it to say they were pretty much equal. Yogi Berra once said, 'Love is the most important thing in the world…but baseball is pretty good too!' Claire would undoubtedly agree!
For years she and her daughter JoAnne would line up in the cold of December to secure their tickets to Red Sox games and certain to include games against the New York Yankees. And if she was not in the seats at Fenway Park, she was sitting comfortably at home cheering. She had a tongue sharp as a razor and a real quick wit. Never was an unkind word spoken from her mouth…except when New York triumphed over her Red Sox.
She loved the Fenway Park experience on summer days and nights, the sounds of the crowds, the familiar signs of Citgo, and the aromas from the vendor's foods. She adorned the familiar logos on hats and tees and everything possible and sang and swayed during the seventh inning stretch to the tune 'Sweet Caroline' and of course relished in the victory of the win.
Claire took trips to Cooperstown where she visited the baseball hall of fame on numerous occasions sometimes just to watch a world series game in the Grandstand Theater. A prized possession was her bat signed in person by Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. Jerry Remy signed his book for her and with seats behind the Sox dugout one game at Fenway she was handed a baseball bat from Ellis Burke. She loved the sport!
She enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1952 and served during the Korean War. While in the Air Force she met Newark, New Jersey native Raymond E. Butler Jr. They later married in her native Parish of Saint Patrick in Watertown on September 12, 1953. Residents of Watertown until 1986 they later lived in Sudbury over twenty years and in Hudson for the last thirteen years.
As a charter member of Women in Military Service for America she was present for the dedication and opening of its memorial in Washington DC. She gleamed with pride and a tear in her eye the day she ceremonially 'Tapped Out' her grandson Conor the day he graduated USAF Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Perhaps poignant and not ironic that Claire died on Independence Day 2020, Saturday, July 4th at her home. She was 87.
Claire T. Ford was born January 4, 1933 in Boston one of eleven children to the late James E. and Anna M. (Kinney) Ford. Raised in Watertown and Saint Patrick Parish she was a graduate of Watertown High School with the class of 1952. In addition, she loved the read of a good book and knitting countless number of afghans for family and friends.
In addition to her husband Ray († October 7, 1996) she is predeceased by her siblings, James 'Buddy' Ford, Robert Ford and Janet Studley.
She leaves her children, Raymond E. Butler III and his wife Deborah of Leominster, JoAnne M. Butler and James E. Butler, both of Hudson; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Butler and his wife Allison Butler, Conor Butler and his wife Samantha Butler, and Christina Butler; her great-granddaughter, Evelyn Rae Butler; her siblings, Ann Goulet (late Raymond), Joan Cappellucci (late John) both of Watertown, Pauline Bales (late Frank) of Good Hope, Georgia, Eileen St. Onge (late Al) of Watertown, Marion Busa (James), John 'Jack' Ford (Frances) all of Waltham, Eleanor Rooney (William) of Reading; her brother-in-law Bill Studley of Nashua, New Hampshire; also survived by many nieces & nephews.
Calling hours for Claire will be held in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, July 9th from 4 to 7 p.m. [Those over 60 and those with underlying health conditions are welcome to visit from 4 to 5 p.m. and others from 5 to 7 p.m.].
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 10th in Saint Jude's Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow with military honors in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, Waltham.
Memorials in her name may be made to The Jimmy Fund | 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor | Brookline, MA | 02445-7226 www.jimmyfund.org
For years she and her daughter JoAnne would line up in the cold of December to secure their tickets to Red Sox games and certain to include games against the New York Yankees. And if she was not in the seats at Fenway Park, she was sitting comfortably at home cheering. She had a tongue sharp as a razor and a real quick wit. Never was an unkind word spoken from her mouth…except when New York triumphed over her Red Sox.
She loved the Fenway Park experience on summer days and nights, the sounds of the crowds, the familiar signs of Citgo, and the aromas from the vendor's foods. She adorned the familiar logos on hats and tees and everything possible and sang and swayed during the seventh inning stretch to the tune 'Sweet Caroline' and of course relished in the victory of the win.
Claire took trips to Cooperstown where she visited the baseball hall of fame on numerous occasions sometimes just to watch a world series game in the Grandstand Theater. A prized possession was her bat signed in person by Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. Jerry Remy signed his book for her and with seats behind the Sox dugout one game at Fenway she was handed a baseball bat from Ellis Burke. She loved the sport!
She enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1952 and served during the Korean War. While in the Air Force she met Newark, New Jersey native Raymond E. Butler Jr. They later married in her native Parish of Saint Patrick in Watertown on September 12, 1953. Residents of Watertown until 1986 they later lived in Sudbury over twenty years and in Hudson for the last thirteen years.
As a charter member of Women in Military Service for America she was present for the dedication and opening of its memorial in Washington DC. She gleamed with pride and a tear in her eye the day she ceremonially 'Tapped Out' her grandson Conor the day he graduated USAF Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Perhaps poignant and not ironic that Claire died on Independence Day 2020, Saturday, July 4th at her home. She was 87.
Claire T. Ford was born January 4, 1933 in Boston one of eleven children to the late James E. and Anna M. (Kinney) Ford. Raised in Watertown and Saint Patrick Parish she was a graduate of Watertown High School with the class of 1952. In addition, she loved the read of a good book and knitting countless number of afghans for family and friends.
In addition to her husband Ray († October 7, 1996) she is predeceased by her siblings, James 'Buddy' Ford, Robert Ford and Janet Studley.
She leaves her children, Raymond E. Butler III and his wife Deborah of Leominster, JoAnne M. Butler and James E. Butler, both of Hudson; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Butler and his wife Allison Butler, Conor Butler and his wife Samantha Butler, and Christina Butler; her great-granddaughter, Evelyn Rae Butler; her siblings, Ann Goulet (late Raymond), Joan Cappellucci (late John) both of Watertown, Pauline Bales (late Frank) of Good Hope, Georgia, Eileen St. Onge (late Al) of Watertown, Marion Busa (James), John 'Jack' Ford (Frances) all of Waltham, Eleanor Rooney (William) of Reading; her brother-in-law Bill Studley of Nashua, New Hampshire; also survived by many nieces & nephews.
Calling hours for Claire will be held in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, July 9th from 4 to 7 p.m. [Those over 60 and those with underlying health conditions are welcome to visit from 4 to 5 p.m. and others from 5 to 7 p.m.].
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 10th in Saint Jude's Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow with military honors in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, Waltham.
Memorials in her name may be made to The Jimmy Fund | 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor | Brookline, MA | 02445-7226 www.jimmyfund.org
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Claire T. (Ford) Butler, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Calling Hours
Thursday, July 9, 2020
4:00 - 7:00 pm (Eastern time)
Joyce Funeral Home
Funeral Mass
Friday, July 10, 2020
Starts at 10:30 am (Eastern time)
Saint Jude Church
Guestbook
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