Claire was born July 15, 1946, in Philadelphia, PA, the daughter of the late Willson and Jean (Hesler) Whiting. Claire was a 1965 alumna of Linden Hall in Lititz, Pennsylvania. In 1971, she earned her Bachelor’s of Nursing from the Medical College of Virginia School of Nursing in Richmond, Virginia, and later earned a Master’s as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Physiatry, and an Adult Nurse Practitioner certification from the University of Virginia School of Nursing in Charlottesville, Virginia. Claire was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in 1994. She practiced nursing at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Health Brigade (formerly Fan Free Clinic), and CrossOver Health in Richmond for over 35 years.
Claire was a devoted follower of Jesus and pursued a deeper spirituality across a variety of ecumenical and theological perspectives. She held a long-standing commitment to service, peacebuilding, and social justice as an expression of her faith. Claire was a member of First Mennonite Church, Richmond, Virginia, and Shalom Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia; and a long-term supporter of the Spiritual Life Institute at Nada Carmelite Hermitage in Crestone, CO.
Claire dedicated her life to service and volunteerism. She served as a volunteer nurse practitioner with CrossOver Health, participated in a year-long service assignment with the Mennonite Discipleship Unit in Phoenix, Arizona, and was actively involved with Alcoholic Anonymous for over 40 years.
Claire had a feisty personality and was fiercely independent. She had a deep love for her dogs—Cinnamon, Ebony, Ben, Indee—steadfast companions whether on walks along the James River, watching movies together, or visiting one of their favorite parks. She shared an interest in birding with her father and enjoyed travelling to visit friends and explore new places and cultures including Honduras, Peru, Kenya, and Ireland. She enjoyed music and had an appreciation for acapella music which she discovered as part of her Mennonite faith communities.
Most of all, Claire was known for her big-hearted, generous spirit. Many individuals and non-profits benefited from her generosity. Claire was one of “the helpers” and was eager to offer assistance to friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. She shared her abundance freely with others in the midst of a life-time of struggle with self-acceptance, learning abilities, addictions, and depression. She was a devoted journalist, using writing as a spiritual practice and way of making sense of the complexities of life. The arts and natural world were sources of inspiration, solace and healing. In turn, Claire supported visual artists, musicians, pastors, and writers in pursuing their God-given talents and callings.
Claire is survived by her sister, Elisabeth M. Whitehead (Ken) of Wayne, Pennsylvania and Naples, Florida; nephews, William (Brenda) Tuohig of Boulder, Colorado; Dr. John Randall Tuohig of Boyce, Virginia; Michael (Megan) Patterson of Boulder, Colorado; great nieces Haley Tuohig and Madison Tuohig; great nephews, Christopher Tuohig and Matthew Tuohig; step-nephew, Robert (Sara) Whitehead of Wayne, Pennsylvania; step-great nephews, John Whitehead and Conor Whitehead; and step-great niece, Regan Whitehead; and godchildren, Maria Drescher-Lehman, Green Lane, Pennsylvania, and Jonathan Drescher-Lehman, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and many beloved friends and caregivers.
The family extends their deep appreciation to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community and First Choice staff, and First Choice Hospice caregivers.
Arrangements are with Lindsey Funeral Homes, 473 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. Condolences may be shared with the family through the funeral home’s website, www.lindseyfuneralhomes.com. Inurnment will be at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Strite Chapel on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM (EDT), followed by a reception at VMRC’s Cline Community Center.
The service will be live-streamed at: https://vimeo.com/event/2859033
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Eastern Mennonite University’s Music, Peace and Justice Program Endowment (https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/E3o5Mg?vid=1rquk0) and Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community’s Mary Reitz Nursing Scholarship (https://www.vmrc.org/donate).
