Claire Elizabeth (St. Germain) Cook, 86, passed away on February 19, 2021 at Harbor Village in New London, CT, where she has resided for the last ten years. Claire was the daughter of the late Clarence and Delia (Foley) St. Germain.
Claire is an alumna of The Williams School. Claire and her late husband Walter G. Cook were high school sweethearts. They married at Biggs Air Force Base chapel in El Paso, TX on May 19, 1954, before returning to East Lyme in 1957. They raised seven children together and spent the rest of their lives in Niantic. Sadly, Claire became a young widow after Walter’s untimely death in 1986 at age 53.
Her immediate family meant everything to Claire. Claire is survived by and will be deeply missed by her children: Walter G. Cook Jr. (and daughter-in-law Ellen) of Novato, CA, Nora J. Ratto (and son-in-law Peter Ratto) of San Mateo, CA, Daniel E. Cook of Danbury, CT, Michael F. Cook of Norwich, CT, and Brian J. Cook (and daughter-in-law, Sharon) of Quaker Hill, CT.
In addition to her devoted husband, Walter, and her parents Clarence and Delia, Claire is predeceased by two sons, Patrick Leo Cook (East Lyme) and Richard Peter (Pete/Rich) Cook (Summerville, SC). She had a place in her heart for their wives, Cheryl (Arsenault) Cook (deceased) and Pok Sun (Misun) Cook.
Claire loved her grandchildren: Walter Cook III and Claire Cook (her namesake), Elizabeth and Michela Ratto, Michael and Caroline Cook, and Brett and Andrew (Drew) Cook. Claire lived long enough to become a great-grandmother to Willow Grace Cook, the daughter of Walter III and Katie Cook.
Claire had two sisters: Dolores (Del) Korineck (deceased) of East Lyme, and Nancy Garagliano of Niantic, as well as a half-sister, Mary St. Germain of Dayville, CT. Claire had three brothers-in-law: Martin Korineck (deceased), Alfred Garagliano (deceased), and Frank (Frannie) Cook of Waterford, CT. Claire loved her sisters, and was a presence in the lives of the Korineck children: Martin Jr., Joseph, James (deceased), and Timothy (deceased), Theresa Merrick, and Nancy Peterson.
Claire was close to her paternal grandmother’s second husband, Charles Talbott (deceased), and her uncle Richard St. Germain (deceased).
In her youth, Claire loved to swim (she swam across the Niantic River from Pine Grove to Waterford as a teenager), and played piano. She loved playing and listening to Chopin, but did not play often as an adult. She could still play Chopin by heart decades later.
Claire had a green thumb, and she liked to grow roses and cultivate indoor plants, especially African violets. She would delight in watching birds (especially cardinals) come to her bird feeder, and smiled when she would see a garter snake (whom she nicknamed Henry) protecting her roses, azaleas and rhododendrons. She enjoyed visiting the Rose Garden in Norwich, and contemplative walks at McCook Point Park and Harkness Memorial State Park.
Claire learned to cook and bake from her mother, and she learned well. Nobody could bake an apple pie (and apple pot pie) like Claire, as all of her children would attest.
Claire will be missed by her friends and other members of her extended family.
New Britain Memorial-Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave, New Britain, CT have been entrusted with arrangements. All services will be at a later date, when COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Claire’s name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation at act.alz.org/donate. For an online memorial, please visit www.NewBritainSagarino.com.
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