Claire M. Waterman (Halpin)
Claire Marie Waterman of Newtown passed away peacefully and went home to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, June 6, 2021. She was 91 years old.
She was the wife of the late Joseph Francis Waterman. She was predeceased in death by her son, Steven and her beloved sister, Agnes Casey.
Born in the Kensington section of Philadelphia on May 10, 1930, she was the eldest daughter of the late Agnes (Rea) and William Halpin and stepdaughter of the late Roland Rogers.
She attended Ascension of Our Lord Grade School and Little Flower High School. Upon starting a career in the banking industry, Claire met Joe, the love of her life, in 1948. They were married in February, 1950. They soon started their family, first residing in the Feltonville section of Philadelphia,eventually deciding to move to “The Country”, settling in Langhorne in 1961. Nestled in the trees, they built an idyllic life for themselves and their six boys. Here, Claire grew a passion for bird-watching, and took up gardening. Her efforts yielded bumper crops of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and eggplant. Upon the death of her husband in 1981, Claire returned to work at First Federal Savings & Loan, then at J.C.Penny Distribution Center, but her most fulfilling and rewarding work was her many years volunteering at the Parenting Resource Center in St. Mary Medical Center. In 1987, she moved to Newtown where she enjoyed her townhouse with its backyard views where she took bird feeding and bird watching to a new level. She was a parishioner at St. Andrew Catholic Church where she frequently attended daily Mass.
Claire was special to everyone she met. It would not be an exaggeration to say she had hundreds of family and friends who would each consider her a close and dear friend. She had a kindness, a caring, and a charm about her that could melt the coldest of hearts. Above all, she cherished every moment with her family. She was the center of all family events, which culminated each year with her favorite, the “Waterfest” week in Avalon, filling three houses by the bay, with the entire clan.
Whenever she was asked if she wished she had a daughter, she would politely respond, “Oh, but I do have daughters, I have six wonderful daughters-in-law.”
She is survived by her sons, Joseph (Jolly) of Malvern, Paul (Randy) of Elverson, Mark (Debra) of Langhorne, David (Gail) of New Hope, Ronald (Sandy) of Holland, and her daughter-in-law Marianne of Quakertown. She is also survived by her loving sister, Dolores Foley, 19 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins all of whom she loved so much.
Claire’s family will receive friends on Friday evening, June11, 2021 from 6:00-8:00PM in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd. (at Holland Rd.) Richboro, PA 18954 and at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 81 Swamp Rd. Newtown, PA 18940 on Saturday, June 12, 2021 from 10:00AM until her Funeral Mass at 11:00AM. Her interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Holy Family Home, 5300 Chester Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19143 or to a charity of the donors choosing.
Evening Visitation
Friday, June 11th, 2021
6:00 PM - 8:00 PMJoseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, Richboro
800 Newtown-Richboro Road
Richboro, PA 18954Morning Visitation
Saturday, June 12th, 2021
10:00 AM - 11:00 AMSt. Andrew Catholic Church
81 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940Service
Saturday, June 12th, 2021
11:00 AMSt. Andrew Catholic Church
81 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940Cemetery
Saturday, June 12th, 2021
Resurrection Cemetery
5201 Hulmeville Rd.
Bensalem, PA 19020