Auburn – Agnes "Claire" Bray, 84, of Auburn, passed away on Tuesday September 4, 2018 at The Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice House with her family by her side. She was born the fourth of six children, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on May 9, 1934, a daughter of the late Walter and Mary (Walsh) French. She attended Elizabeth N.J. schools, graduating from Sacred Heart High School class of 1952. On January 14, 1961, she married the love of her life, Richard Norris Bray who passed away on August 11, 2013 after 52 years of marriage. After graduating from high school, she was employed at Esso Standard Oil Co. She retired for a time while raising her young family. Once the kids were all in school, she returned to work at Clare Brown Association in Garwood, N.J. and then to Martiz Marketing Research in Clark N.J.
Claire and Dick lived in Cranford N.J. for 28 years, raising their three young children. When Dick retired in 1990, they became year round residents of Bear Pond, Turner. Following Dick’s death, Claire moved to Schooner Estates in Auburn in 2013 but she always thought of Bear Pond as “home”. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Auburn where she attended mass at St. Philip’s Church. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening, genealogy, was an avid reader and very skilled at solving jigsaw puzzles.
Agnes is survived 2 sons: Richard Bray Jr. and wife Anne of Concord Ma., Kenneth Bray and wife Annette of North Yarmouth, Me., one daughter: Sandra Caggiano and husband Matthew of Concord, Ma., a sister: Mary Alice Geigerich and husband Paul of Warren, N.J., 5 grandchildren: Ryan and Connor Bray, Amy, Joseph and Catherine Caggiano and many special nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Agnes was predeceased by her husband Richard in August of 2013, 3 brothers: Robert French in January 2002, Alan J. French in January 2013, Reverend Walter V. French in December 2013 and one sister: Elizabeth J. Morris in September 2004.
You are invited to offer your condolences and share fond memories with the family by visiting Agnes’ guestbook at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.
Visitation will be held on Friday at The Fortin Group/Plummer Merrill Funeral Home in Auburn from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Philip’s Church in Auburn followed by committal at Keenes Mill Cemetery in Turner. Those wishing may make donations in Agnes’ memory to: Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice Foundation, 15 Strawberry Ave., Lewiston, Maine 04240. A Service of The Fortin Group/Plummer Merrill Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Services, 217 Turner St., Auburn, Maine 04210. 207-783-8545
