September 28, 1927 – March 9, 2026
Claire Dougherty, 98, of Harrisburg and formerly of Dunmore, PA, passed away peacefully at home on March 9th, 2026. Born and raised in Dunmore, Claire was a 1945 graduate of Dunmore High School. She was the daughter of the late Joseph O. Howard and Mae (Quinn) Howard. After high school, she worked as a telephone switchboard operator for the Bell Telephone Company.
It was in Dunmore where she met her husband, Donald Dougherty. Their first date was “a Coke and a smoke” at the Dunmore Candy Kitchen. That date sparked a 62-year marriage that lasted until Donald’s passing in 2009. Together, they built a family legacy that produced seven children, 12 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, spanning nearly 80 years.
As the last surviving member of her family from the “Greatest Generation,” Claire was a humble example of self-sacrifice. She served as a moral compass and a source of stout-hearted strength that girded her children for life’s adventures. A devout Roman Catholic, she was a longtime parishioner of St. Margaret Mary Church in Harrisburg. Claire valued family above all else; her favorite memories in life were large family gatherings for weekend dinners, birthdays, and holiday celebrations. To know Claire was to know her family, her welcoming personality, her gentle spirit, her love of a good party and her infectious laugh.
Preceded in death by: Her husband, Donald; her son, Donald Junior; and daughters, Janet Schell and Regina Oldham. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Oliver Howard, and her sister, Marjorie (Howard) Ruddy.
Survived by: Her children: Mary Claire Dougherty (Fred Brown); Joan Batdorf (Mike); Ann Therese Hach (William); and Michael Dougherty. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Sharon Dougherty, and sons-in-law, William Schell and Paul Oldham.
Service Information: A viewing and visitation will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed immediately by a funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Margaret Mary Church, 2800 Paxton Church Road, Harrisburg, PA. Burial will be held Saturday,March 14,2026, 11:00am at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow,PA. Mass will be live streamed available on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/@stmmparish.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Margaret Mary Church.
