Claire H. Ross

Claire H. Ross (McFaul), of New City, NY, passed away January 20, 2021, at the age of 91. She was born September 12, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY, to Katherine and Henry McFaul. She lived in Brooklyn and Springfield Gardens before moving to New City, where she and her loving husband, Frank Ross, raised their nine children.

Claire lived an active life dedicated to serving her many communities. She proudly served in the U.S. Air Force and worked for the New York City Police Department. She also worked as a school bus driver and served as President of the Clarkstown School Bus Drivers’ Association. She volunteered as a member of the New City Ambulance Corps., where she also served as the organization’s president. She and her husband enjoyed spending winters living in the Florida Keys, where she became a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. She was president of the New City Senior Citizens’ Club and was named Clarkstown’s Senior Citizen of the Year in 2011. She was also a proud member of The Rockland County Shields and served as vice president..

Among her many accomplishments, Claire was asked by the then Clarkstown Supervisor to organize a town-wide transportation system. She developed routes, helped acquire busses and employees and formed the original Clarkstown Mini Trans system, which still operates today. Her proudest achievement, however, was her family.

Claire was predeceased by her loving husband of 49 years, Frank; her brother Terrance; her sister Kathleen; and three infant children: Geralyn, Theresa and Gerard. She is survived by her brother Daniel McFaul (Mary Ellen), as well as her nine children: Claire, Frank (Sue), Joseph, Kevin, Daniel (Lisa), Anthony (Lisa), Charles, Michele Heim (John) and Jerralyn Wendolowski (Gerard). She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren, Brian (Elizabeth), Jillane (Dennis), Patrick (Jessica), Kyle (Lacey), Jenna, Daniel, Sean, Sydney, Jessica, Bailey, and Frankie, as well as eight great grandchildren: Alexi, Nixon, Marley, Jovie, Pippa, Maddox, Brynn and Shane.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 26, from 3-7 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home in New City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Augustine’s Church in New City on Wednesday, January 27, at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Nanuet.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New City Ambulance Corps or any charity of choice in Claire’s name.