Claire C. McDonough

~~ Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile. Albert Einstein ~~

Claire passed on peacefully on September 17, 2021. Born to Alfred and Emma (Tetrault) Dagostino in Lynn on July 6, 1929, Always a good student and valued member of the school band, she graduated from Lynn Classical High School in 1947. After early aspirations to become a nun, often volunteering her time to work with the elderly, she instead decided to enter the workforce as a secretary at John Hancock Insurance in Boston. She later became the devoted wife of Matthew McDonough (an Irishman!) and began working in the service and retail industries, primarily waitressing and as a store clerk, as they raised their children and she then helped with the caretaking of each of their beloved grandchildren.

Claire always had a vivid imagination, seeing animal shapes in the clouds, managing to find “faces in places” and believing she loved going to the theatre when she almost always dozed off during the performances. However, she was always an active spectator at as many plays, concerts and games of grandchildren and great-grandchildren as she could manage. Whether it was driving neighbors to appointments, helping at the local food pantry or waking in the dark to go watch the sunrise with the family, she was the most easygoing person. More recently, she enjoyed sitting on the deck of her “2nd home” in Maine, counting the stars at night and the skydivers during the day.

Claire, despite health and medical challenges of late, always expressed a positive attitude and her legacy of strength and independence will live on through her much loved family.

Claire’s survivors include her loving sister, Teresa Connick, with whom she shared phone calls most every night, her children, Teresa McDonough of Lynn, Anne and Joseph Tabet of Salem and Patricia and Timothy McDonough-Doane of Maine, her grandchildren, Jennifer and Joanne, Michael, J.R., Sharon and Pedro, Matthew, Catherine and Ed, Christopher, Andrew, Emma and Julianne and John, her great-grandchildren Arthur, Robin, Maggie, Bryson, Nicholas and Maya as well as her greatly loved and spoiled roommate, Elliot, the rescue cat, and many cousins, nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her parents, Alfred and Emma, her sister, Pauline Swirka, brother, Alfred Dagostino, husband, Matthew McDonough, son, Michael McDonough and daughter, Catherine Tenney.

Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral mass organized by the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home which will be held on October 16, 2021 at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Church, 571 Boston Street, Lynn. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery. Claire was a generous person and, in leiu of flowers, any donation made in her name - to the North East Animal Shelter, Salem, MA where she met her beloved Elliot or the charity of one’s choice -would be an honor.