Claire Alice Everett's Obituary
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved one, Claire Alice Everett (nee Therien), age 83, on 3/15/2024.
Claire was born on 11/22/1940 in New Bedford, MA to Ovila and Laura (Fortin) Therien. She grew up in the historic whaling city of New Bedford, in the rich cultural tradition of her French-Canadian heritage. She was fluent in English and French.
She aspired to be a nurse; however, she decided to take on the greatest and toughest job there is, that of a mother. Our mother provided a rich, warm, and loving home for us. A home filled with laughter and joy, delicious homemade food, of lovely birthday celebrations at home with cakes she baked, of big Sunday dinners after church, summertime meals of fresh corn on the cob and watermelon, baking together, and family time together, and ice cream. Always ice cream. In fact, she felt ice cream was medicine, especially for headaches.
Claire enjoyed doting on her grandchildren, tending to her house plants and gardening, singing in her church choir, music, and good food of all sorts. Oh, and how she loved fresh, garden tomatoes.
Claire had an incredibly strong work ethic, amazing organizational and budgeting skills. Any work that she did, she did with pride and a positive attitude, and she instilled these values, among others, in her children. She encouraged us to follow our dreams, no matter how wild, with zest and zeal. And she ensured that we were self-sufficient by teaching us so many skills and pressing us to gain a college education. Another one of her talents was her ability to sew. She was an avid sewer, crafting her own clothes, as well as for her daughters when they were small children. She enjoyed doting on her grandchildren, who lovingly called her Memere (French for grandmother).
Everyone who met Claire was touched by her happy and positive attitude, her easy and beautiful smile, and her loving nature.
Her greatest accomplishment, and her legacy, is the love she gave to her children, her grandchildren, and her friends. That love was vast, bottomless, and unconditional, and it is etched on our hearts forever. We will carry you in our hearts forever, as you carried us in yours. We miss and love you so much.
Claire is survived by her four children, Deborah Dickerson and her spouse Bob, Michael Everett, Lori Hilman and her spouse David, and Nancy Everett. She has four cherished grandchildren, Zachary Hilman, Brooklyn Hilman, Allyson (Orion) Dickerson, and Elizabeth Everett. They were all her favorites. She is also survived by her sister Yvette Tjersland (nee Therien) and brother-in-law Olav Tjersland. Claire was predeceased by her parents, Ovila and Laura Therien.
A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church 17405 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs, FL on Thursday April 4, 2024, at 3 pm.
A private burial will take place on April 3, 2024, at Evergreen Cemetery in Gainesville, FL.
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