Claire Preston's Obituary
Claire Preston, age 89, passed away Sunday, April 13, 2014. She was born in Providence, RI on June 26, 1924 to Grace and Frederick Mailhot.
The oldest of 10 children, Claire graduated as a registered nurse in 1945 and married Richard I. Preston that same year. They had two sons, Richard I. Preston, Jr. and Ronald D. Preston. She and her husband Richard built and ran Whitehall Convalescence Home from 1962-1982 in St. Petersburg, Florida. After the sale of Whitehall, Claire continued in her nursing career until the age of 70. She volunteered in the public school system working with elementary aged students on reading for a number of years after retirement and was very active at her church, Fifth Avenue Baptist Church.
She enjoyed cooking, sewing, tutoring children in reading.
Claire was preceded in death by two brothers, Ed Mailhot and Jerry Mailhot.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Richard; sons, Richard and Ron all of Ft. White, FL; 4 brothers, Fred Mailhot of Safety Harbor, Jim Mailhot of California; John Mailhot of Ormond Beach, Paul Mailhot of Pennsylvania; 3 sisters, Nancy Burns of East Greenwich, RI, Lou Mello of California, Patty Milligan of Ft. Lauderdale; 5 grandchildren, Richard Preston, III, Eric Preston, J. Samuel Preston, Jennifer Adkins and Michael Preston and 5 great grandchildren, Conner, Olivia, Cason, Luke and Victoria.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, 4901 5th Avenue N., St. Petersburg, FL with Pastor Mickey Burroughs officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, 5750 49th Street N., St. Petersburg, FL. Arrangements are under the care of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA
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