Claire Berglund

Born on April 3, 1923 in Luzern County, Foster Township, PA, she was the daughter of the late Neal and Mary Gallagher. Claire was a cadet Nurse during WWII and graduated from Jersey City Medical Center as a registered nurse. She worked as an operating room nurse at Jersey City Medical Center. After the war, she traveled to Hawaii and worked at Queens Hospital in Honolulu. She later worked at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Providence Hospital in Washington DC and New York Ear and Eye Infirmary in New York. She was a volunteer nurse when the family lived in Goluk, Turkey while her husband William was there on naval duty.

Claire was the first President of the Fleet Reserve Wives Branch 67 in Washington DC, a member of the Connecticut Trials Council of Girl Scouts as a former Leader and Service Unit Chairman. She was an active member at Zion Lutheran Church in Waterbury, CT as a Sunday School Teacher, member of WELCA, the Altar Guild and Outreach Committee. She resided in Wolcott for 48 years.

She is survived by her six children, Celeste Rich and her husband Ned of Westborough, MA, Peter Berglund and his wife Paula of Norwich, CT, Christine and her husband Dr. Kevin Wolter of Mystic, CT, John Berglund and his wife Patty of Vernon, CT, Joe Berglund and his wife Kim, Nancy and her husband Jim Cosgrove all of Wolcott, her 13 grandchildren, Erin Daniels, Lindsey Burke, Sarah and KT Rich, Jason,Joey, Brian, Rachel, Kara, Sean, and Ryan Berglund, Tom and Claire Cosgrove, five great grandchildren, Emily, Justin and Matthew Daniels, Kaelyn and Corbin Burke, and several generations of nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband William, she was predeceased by her brothers Neal Jr. and Jimmy Gallagher and her sisters Mary O?Neil, Loretta Spahn and Kathryn Gallagher.

Claire?s family would like to thank the caring and compassionate staff of the Alzheimer?s Resource Center of Plantsville, CT.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday 11 AM at the Zion Lutheran Church 1555 Hamilton Ave. in Waterbury. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church. Claire will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband at a later date. Calling hours are Wednesday from 5 to 8 PM at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home 690 Woodtick Rd. in Wolcott. Visit www.dellavecchiafh.com for online condolences and directions.