Claire was born on September 6, 1934, in Campbellton, NB to the late Melville Adam Duncan and to the late Eva (Wilmot) Duncan.
Claire, one of 14 children, worked to help pay for her education. She graduated from high school in 1954 and graduated from Commercial in 1955. Shortly after she started working, she met Bob and left to bring up their family. She was president of the Atholville Home and School. An active support volunteer in the Atholville Fire department and local branch of the Atholville Legion. She returned to the workforce after moving back to her family home in Flatlands and was instrumental in developing and managing renovation projects for the Flatland School repurposing it to a Community Hall. This led to the formation of a recreation council of which she was an active executive member for Years.
She was a Woman’s Institute member, a member of the United Church, and missed her church family when covid changed gathering policies.
Claire worked as an executive member of the Restigouche Riparian Association and since 1968 worked for Runnymede Fishing Lodge in its management for the Cullman family. A passionate supporter of the Restigouche River and its conservation for the future, Claire instilled that love and passion in all who met her from family to friends.
Claire had a love of learning that lasted a lifetime. To mark her 50th, she learned how to ride a bicycle, how to swim, and was successful at obtaining her driver’s license. Claire was always ready for a game of cards, whether it be with her bridge club friends or a competitive game of bid euchre with her family. She encouraged friends and family to learn bridge through classes she offered around her kitchen table, leading to many evenings of laughter to be had by all involved. If ever someone had a question about how to play Contract Bridge, Claire would have the answer as well as the reference in her guidebook at the ready. Claire was an avid reader with a love of fiction and autobiographies. She shared this love of reading with many of her family and friends. She is known for her ever-growing library that she was always happy to loan a good book out from.
Seasons could be identified with the kitchen activities. Spring was fiddlehead picking and freezing along with the annual lobster feasts and pots of steaming fiddleheads being served (while bags of cleaned fiddleheads sat in the brook to be distributed by family members far and wide). Her wild strawberry jam was referenced as liquid gold and was a treasured gift. Claire loved to bake and is well known throughout the community for her homemade bread and her divinity fudge. Christmas meant meat pies and more meat pies.
Claire was an active gardener experimenting with not only flower gardens but with successfully and proudly growing her own potatoes and grapes. Being a master wordsmith, she was quite the challenger in any game of Scrabble to be had (whether it be in person or digital games with family members).
Surrounded by her family and a large group of friends, she was supported in all the activities she set out to do.
Active right up to her final moments she has left wonderful memories and a huge gap in many lives.
Left to mourn are her children Deborah (Kevin) Gaddess, Allan (Debbie McLeod) Knight, Angela Knight Leon, and Kenneth Knight. Leaves grandchildren Craig (Audrey) Gaddess, Charles Gaddess, David (Nicole) Gaddess, Marc (Laura) Knight, Nicole (Cody) Foster, Ian (Holly Chisholm) Knight, and George (Shae-Lyn) Knight. Her great grandchildren Rylan, Abigail, Hallie, Penelope, Carter, Duncan, Benjamin, Rylee, Blake, Noami, and Emma. She is also survived by her brother William Duncan, sisters Flora (Lou) Madelino, Josephine Campbell, Anna Lee (Roland) Barristo, Elsie Boyce, Gail Levitt, and Nancy (Earle) MacLeod, Sister-in-law Delores Duncan and Brothers-in-law Bruce Barton, Wesley (Luanne Mann) Knight, and William Olsen. She will be kindly remembered by extended family and friends. Claire was predeceased by her son Keith Knight as well as sisters, brothers, and in-laws.
The family will welcome family and friends at Maher's Funeral Home, 33 Lansdowne St., Campbellton on Thursday, April 25th, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Following this time, we would invite you to join the family at 44 Islandview Dr. in Flatlands for refreshments beginning at 5pm and to share memories while celebrating Claire’s life throughout the evening.
Contributions in Claire’s memory can be made to the Friends of Healthcare Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, or donor’s choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.maherfuneralhomes.com for the family.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted in the care of Maher’s Funeral Home, Campbellton.
(506)789-1699 or toll free (855) 404-1699 email: [email protected]
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