Claire (Santos) Oliveira, 95

Dec 4, 2020

Claire (Santos) Oliveira, 95, formerly of Fairhaven, passed peacefully, at the Grace Barker Nursing Center, on Thursday, December 3, 2020. She was the beloved wife of the late Leopold Oliveira Jr. 

Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Virginia Santos. 

Claire is survived by her seven children who loved her dearly: Deborah Phelan and her husband Andrew, Cynthia Anterni and her husband John Jr, Michele Oliveira and her partner Svein Benestad, David Oliveira and his wife Laurie, Glenn Oliveira, Dennis Oliveira and his wife Cheryl, and Daniel Oliveira and his wife Cindy. She also leaves behind a sister, Dolores DaCunha, 20 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. 

She was predeceased by three sisters, one grandchild, and one great-grandchild.

Claire was a graduate of Fairhaven High School and was a member of the Red Hat Society. She took great pride in her family, and was a devoted wife, mother, and Nana. Claire leisurely spent her days in her lush gardens and baking delicious treats. She was an avid reader.  Claire had a love for the sea and traveled quite frequently. She will forever be remembered for her witty sense of humor and her ability to light up a room with laughter.  Claire taught all of us the definition of “family” and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

We would like to express our most sincere gratitude to the staff at Grace Barker Health, for the loving care you provided to Claire for the past two years.   

Claire’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 789 Dartmouth Street. 

Relatives and friends are invited. Visitation Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Claire’s memory can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105-1905. 

To Leave a note of condolence, visit www.waring-sullivan.com.