Helen "Claire" Whitman

WHITMAN, H. Claire, 90 years of Halifax passed away December 21, 2013 at home. Born in East Inglisville, Annapolis County, to the late Guildford and Linda (Malcolm) Whitman. Claire spent her early years on the farm until her teens, when she went out into the world to work. She worked in several places, starting in Inglisville, moving onto other Valley towns, until reaching Halifax. She worked in various occupations until 1955 when she left to go to Boston, USA. During her many years in the USA she lived and worked in several places in Boston and Cambridge, Mass. Her last place of work for over 20 years was the Sheraton Corporation of America, which she enjoyed very much and retired from there in 1992. She returned to Nova Scotia in 2002 to be with family. Claire loved to travel and visited many interesting countries, some being; Isreal (6 times), Russia, England, Scotland, Europe as well as many states in the USA. She made many friends in Boston of whom she still kept in touch. She was very active in Tremont Temple Baptist Church, in Boston, holding offices on several committees and taking care of the church library. In Halifax she became a member of Bayers Road Baptist Church, where she also volunteered in the church library. She became an ardent seamstress, making most of her own clothes as well as others taking advantage of her expertise in making and altering for them. Claire also enjoyed taking in many of the cultural events so prevalent in and around the city of Boston. Besides her parents she was predeceased by two sisters; Eleanor Retherford and Mariam Blackwell and baby brother Charlie Whitman. She is survived by sisters, Josie Hood, Halifax, Erna (Kendall) Rawding, Truro, Lillian LeRue, Halifax, Joyce O’Brien, Truro, brother Malcolm (Mariam) Whitman, Bridgetown, brother-in-law John Blackwell, Dartmouth, several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society. Family flowers only. Claires family thanks Dr. O’Neill and the countless others in our medical community for the compassion and guidance in her health care concerns during her final years here in Nova Scotia. She marveled at the care she received. To those who carried out her wish of staying at home, VON, Homecare Staff, friends and family, we thank you all. On December 21, 2013 Claire completed her life here on earth in the warmth of her home, her nephew PJ said “she has finally found freedom”.