Obituary of Claire M. Hearn Wheeler

Claire M. (Kelly) (Hearn) Wheeler, age 88, of Cheshire entered into rest on October 8, 2014. She was the devoted wife of the late Claude Hearn and the late Henry Wheeler. Claire was born on October 22, 1925 in New Haven, daughter of the late Raymond and Mary Ellen (Singleton) Kelly. Claire earned her nursing diploma from the St. Raphael’s School of Nursing, Class of 1946, and worked as a registered nurse for the public school system in Cheshire. She is the beloved mother of Claudia Hearn and her husband Edward Stern of Branford; Patrick Hearn and his wife Salvadora of Waterbury; Thomas Hearn and his wife Ann Marie of Cheshire; Margaret Ricciardi and her husband David of Branford and her step-children; Darrell and Thomas Wheeler; Scott, Kent, Larry and Cherie Wheeler. Claire is also survived by her cherished grandchildren; Brendan and Ryan Duff; Molly and Eric Stern; Emilia and Bridgette Hearn; Grady and Iris Rae Hearn; Kelly, Colleen and Kevin Ricciardi; and many step grandchildren; adored great granddaughter Nora Rhiannon Duff; her brother Michael Kelly; “special” son David Huntley; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her infant son David Raymond Hearn; her brother Raymond Kelly; and step-daughter Celeste Wheeler. Her children would like to express their gratitude to Claire’s warmhearted home caregivers; Viveine Hanchard and her husband Derrick, and their son Osmond Hanchard for all their compassionate care given to Claire during her illness. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, October 13, 2014 at 10AM in St. Bridget Church, 175 Main Street, Cheshire; friends are asked to meet directly at church. Interment will follow at St. Bridget Cemetery. Friends may greet her family at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 So. Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410, on Sunday, October 12, 2014 from 4PM to 7PM.