Our Beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Great Great Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Grand Aunt, Great Grand Aunt, passed peacefully away in her home in Foxboro, Ma, on Sunday, October 27, 2019.  For several days prior to her death, she was surrounded by her family, friends, neighbors and assorted family pets.  Claire was exactly where she wanted to be; in her own home surrounded by the people she loved. She was 102 years young.

Clara Havener Wilson was born in Boston, Ma., on Jan 7th/8th, 1917 (she had two dates on official documents) to her parents Edward Havener Wilson of Maine, and Etta Belle (Hill) Wilson of New Hampshire, and was the 2nd of 6 children.  She spent her first 8 years living with her family in Linden, Ma.  Claire was named Clara Havener after her paternal grandmother, but early on, she unofficially changed her name from Clara to Claire. Claire has been called Claire ever since.  This is an early example of a trait Claire exhibited throughout her life; to not make a scene about something she wanted to do; she just quietly went ahead and did it.

Claire’s maternal grandmother, Etta Louise (Webster) Hill (1866-April 1885), died shortly after Etta Belle’s birth in1885.  Etta Belle Hill (Claire’s mother) was then brought  up by her father’s sister, Aunt May. Etta Belle’s father remained a strong presence in his daughter’s life.  He supported and encouraged Etta Belle to continue in her education, in a way where she could be independent and take care of herself, traits that Claire manifested throughout her own life.  Etta Belle graduated from Burdett College in Boston as a Bookkeeper, and worked for several years in bookkeeping prior to marrying Edward Havener Wilson.  Claire remembered her mother as thoroughly enjoying having her 6 children around her, especially since her mother had grown up as an only child.  Claire’s mother was quiet, loved and encouraged reading, and was related on her mother’s maternal side (Etta Louise Webster Hill} to Daniel Webster, the renowned Orator and Statesman of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. 

Claire’s father, Edward Havener Wilson, grew up in Maine and later worked with his father in a thriving real estate company in and around Everett, Ma.  During the heyday of the 1920’s, Claire remembered her father buying, repairing and selling at least 3 home, that the family lived in while each home was being refurbished.  After 3 such home moves in Linden, her parents purchased a 56 acre apple orchard in Harvard, Mass, where the family lived and thrived, until their mother passed away in 1932 when Claire was a young teen.  This move to Harvard had a most positive impact on the family.  By all accounts, Harvard was Home to them and they loved living there. Most of Claire’s siblings chose to return and be buried in Harvard, Ma., despite living elsewhere as adults.

While living in Harvard, Claire’s father Edward became an electrician. Their barn was the first barn in the area that had electrical lighting. It was great advertising for his newly developed electrical business. During those years in Harvard, Ma, Claire’s father traveled into Boston at night to provide stage lighting to the Boston theaters.  Claire remembered going into Boston on the train with her mother, and sitting with her father while he followed along with the script and lit the stage. Claire’s father also accompanied traveling theater shows, and would occasionally fill in for actors.

Claire’s father became interested and involved in raising, breeding, and showing purebred Airedale Terriers, a hobby that Claire later took up in raising purebred standard French poodles, in Newton, Ma. Her father also became a Beekeeper. Throughout this time in Harvard, Claire’s father ran the farm, harvesting the apples and setting up a roadside market where his children helped sell the apples. Claire recalled how the precut wood was delivered to the farm so they could make baskets. Claire loved eating apples, which may be a contributing factor in her magnificent, long life.   

In l932, Claire and her family entered a very difficult time when her Mother, Etta Belle, died at age 47. She had been bed bound for a month from the long term effects of having had Rheumatic Heart Fever as a child.  Claire’s mother had the perspicacity to call each of her 6 children in and speak to them individually before she died. Claire’s mother told her that she was a very strong person, and that Claire would need to keep the family together. Keeping the family together was central to Claire’s being. Claire’s mother also told Claire she was capable of doing whatever she wanted to do in life.  The loss of Claire’s mother was devastating for the family.  Her death came at the height of the depression.  Claire’s eldest brother, Edward, left for the Maine woods for 7 years the day after his mother’s funeral.  Claire worked to make school lunches for herself and her siblings and dinner for the family at night. Claire’s Great Aunt May came in to help out the family after Claire’s mother died. However, eventually the family lost their home and their orchard due to the impact of the depression, and the children went to live with different families in the community.

After completing High School, Claire moved to Boston, Mass where she lived at the YWCA on Clarendon St, in downtown Boston.  There she met Miss Brett, who was officially in loco parentas at the Y, and who became a dear friend.  Claire’s first job in Boston, was at R. H. Sterns, on Tremont St. by the Park, where she was placed right up front on the Charles of the Ritz cosmetics counter, apparently due in part to her unusually high cheek color.  Claire was taught how to mix powders to blend in with the customer’s complexion.  A great start for a budding artist.

Claire was introduced to her future husband by her two younger sisters, Kay and Georgie, who were in the WACS & WAVES at that time.  Claire recalled being at dinner with Joe and friends on December 7th 1941, when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Joe immediately left to report in to his unit, where he was quickly shipped out for training.

Claire married Joseph Robert Cotter, MD on Feb 17, 1942, just prior to his completing his Army training in Florida and the British Isles, after which he was deployed to North Africa and later Italy as an Army Physician, serving under General Eisenhower in the WWII war effort. 

During the war, Claire moved to Elliott Hill in Newton, Ma, where their first child, Susan Ellen was born in late Nov, 1942.  Joe returned from the war effort in Europe in 1946, and set up a home medical practice in Newton, Ma.  Joe was given admitting privileges at Newton-Wellesley Hospital as an attending physician. He later spent years, two afternoons a week, attending to Veteran’s medical needs, at the medical office in Boston.  

In 1947, Joe’s brother, John F. Cotter who worked for Mayor Curley, ran for Congress in the 11th Congressional District in Boston.  Claire and the extended family actively campaigned for John in that election.  John Cotter was favored to win, until the very last days when John F. Kennedy won his first Congressional election on his way to becoming President. 

Claire managed all the non-medical aspects of the home office while raising their 4 children. She participated in community activities, also serving as Scout Mistress to 2 groups of Cub Scouts, 2 groups of Brownies, 2 Boy Scout Groups, and 2 Girl Scout Groups.  She was active in the local PTA and also served as their President. 

Claire always read to us prior going to bed at night.  We were all encouraged to read aloud at bedtime as we developed our reading skills.  All of us as children had monthly magazine subscriptions, as well as a library in our home.

When we all were quite young, Claire was given our 3 week old French poodle, Mimi as a gift, from someone who could not keep the puppy.  Mimi was a wonderful pup. Claire loved animals and our home was filled with a variety of animals at various times; puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, chicks, ducklings, painted turtles, one or two erstwhile snakes (Claire was not amused), injured birds that were splinted up (Dad was not amused), and any other assortment of skunks, goldfish, etc.  Suffice it to say, there was always something going on in the Wilson/Cotter household.

Claire loved to try new ways of doing things. She was a researcher and adventurer.  There was the time Claire got her first blender. We were all pretty excited to see how it would work out. Claire had followed the recipe to make eggnog using the blender, so at breakfast, we all took a sip. Claire had tossed in the eggs, shells and all.  She knew there was a calcium in the egg shells…..not so sure eggshells were recommended in the blender book. She cracked up at our reaction. The eggshells did NOT get ground up sufficiently at all. 

Claire had a great interest in people, animals, plants and family; and not necessarily in that order.  She had a strong creative bent, and encouraged curiosity and creativity in our own lives.  As children, we frequently made gifts for family members; cards, jewelry, something baked. Thanksgiving and Christmas were major family celebrations at our home, and Claire loved making either her very large Turkey dinner or her Roast Beef with her world class Yorkshire Pudding with all the trimmings.  I remember the one time she was seriously disappointed in our young dog, Mimi, when we had the extended family holiday dinner ready and Claire couldn’t find the roast beef.  Mimi was way back under the table.  Licking her chops.  Looking very guilty.  Claire just couldn’t believe that Mimi wolfed down that entire roast beef. It was personal.

Claire taught me how to knit, sew, paint a room or piece of furniture, how to strip furniture or a bed, to enjoy work, to be kind to animals and yes, people. I remember her working on kit models with the boys. Cards were a big thing in our home, as was Monopoly.  Claire stressed being kind to one another when we played Monopoly. We were all expected to be responsible, do our chores, help out at home and to do some type of work as a young person. The girls babysat, the boys shoveled or delivered papers. We were allowed a lot of freedom in what we did, as Claire did not expect us to be perfect.  We didn’t disappoint her.

All throughout Claire’s life, she had an abiding interest in continuing education. She read and watched educational shows about nature, art, history, and the world in general.  She continued her lifelong educational quest through the pursuit of work related, artistic and college courses throughout her life.  At age 80, Claire received her Associates Degree in Social Sciences from Dean Jr. College, in Franklin, Mass.  She was really thrilled, and we were all so proud of her for going after something that was important to her.  

Claire had a remarkable ability to create strong and lasting friendships wherever she went. Where we lived in Newton Mass, Claire and several of her friends on Elliott Hill would come to her home weekly, and do oil paintings from Still Life. They taught each other Bridge. We went down to the Cape together or visited each other in other locales.  We all enjoyed outdoor cookouts together. They were a wonderful group of friends and remained good friends throughout their lives. 

In the 1960’s, Claire worked at Horizon House Publications, a publishing, marketing and advertising firm in Dedham, Ma.  While there, Claire met another wonderful group of friends including one of her closest friends, Emily Hajar. They got to know one another and their families, and these friends took off on adventures together, and she had grand times traveling and visiting with friends, particularly after they all retired.

Claire moved to Foxboro 52 years ago, she had the great good fortune to again meet wonderful friends where she worked at the Foxboro Company. She was blessed to have her close neighbors all of whom had moved in around the same time.  She couldn’t have asked for better neighbors. They have been steadfast and are amazingly thoughtful;  all looking out for one another.  Claire’s family realizes how blessed Claire has been with her neighbors and friends she’s had in her life.  She’s lived longer in Foxboro, Mass, then anywhere else.  Claire retired from work at 83.

Claire found many outlets for her artistic and creative endeavors; oil painting, watercolors, working with clay, sketching portraits or landscapes, writing poetry or short stories, and sewing, One of Claire’s poems was published.

Claire volunteered with in a number of community agencies; The Foxboro Senior Center,  delivering Meals on Wheels, scheduling weekly physical/mental health calls for those shut indoors. Claire also raised money walking over 20 miles for hunger for several years in a row.  Claire also volunteered at the local Hospice program well into her 90’s; the program that provided such wonderful assistance to her and her family in her last days here with us.We will sorely miss our strong, independent, resilient, artistic and slightly offbeat Claire. 

The Town of Foxboro presented Claire with the Golden Cane, which is given the oldest resident in Foxboro. Claire had that honor for over two and a half years.  It’s time for Claire to hand that honor over to the next lucky recipient.  

Claire Havener Wilson Cotter was PREDECEASED: by her Parents, Edward Havener and Etta Belle (Hill) Wilson, of Harvard, Ma, her siblings:  Edward Thomas Wilson, Japan, Kay & George Kelley, Minnesota (?), Thomas & Jesse Wilson, of Plymouth, Ma., Georgeanna & Charles Clifford Johnson, San Jose, Ca, and her son, Joseph Robert Cotter, Jr. of Eagle Creek, Oregon, 

She was SURVIVED by: Sister, the late Mary & Hugh Whitman, Guilford, Conn, 

Children: Susan Ellen & Gary White, No, Andover, Ma, Constance Marie & Arthur C. Weisenseel, MD, Nyack, NY,  daughter in law Kolieha Bush Cotter, Eagle Creek, Ore., Gerald Edward & Deborah Dore Cotter, Provincetown, Ma., 

Grandchildren: James Thomas & Michelle Harrison, Tolland, Conn, Constance Marie Mitchell, San Diego, Ca,. Carleen Marie Cotter, Tucson, Ar., Jess Cotter, Foxboro, Ma., Leon Cotter, Portland, Or., Noah Cotter, Seattle, Wa. 

Great Grandchildren Aisling Mitchell, Aidan Mitchell and Cillian Mitchell, San Diego, Ca, Thomas and Beata Harrison, Boston, Ma., Elizabeth Harrison, Boston, Ma, 

As well as large numbers of nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews living throughout the United States.

There will be Memorial Service for Claire; Spring, 2020, at The Bellevue Cemetery, Harvard, Ma.  Date to be determined. 

Contributions can be made to:  The St. Jude Hospital, or a charity of your choice.