Claire H. (Cavanaugh) Cunningham

Claire H. (Cavanaugh) Cunningham, 86, of Chatham and formerly of Worcester, passed away Thursday, October 13, 2022, at Liberty Commons in Chatham.

Claire was born in Worcester, daughter of James E. and Mary Ellen (Kerrins) Cavanaugh.  Her father was a District Fire Chief in Worcester.  

Claire attended Worcester Public Schools and graduated from South High School in 1953. She graduated from Worcester State University in 1957 and earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Worcester State in 1960.

Claire was an educator at heart, teaching elementary grades in Bethesda, Maryland and in the Worcester Public Schools for 24 years.  She also taught religious education at Our Lady of the Angels Church. 

She always gave herself fully to all communities that she was a part of, as an active member and volunteer. She was a class agent, member of the Alumni Association and the Alumni Executive Board, and Co-Chairperson of the Scholarship Tea Committee at Worcester State University. In acknowledgment of her work and dedication, she received the Alumnus of the Year Award in 2000.  In the city of Worcester, Claire was a former member and treasurer of the Friday Afternoon Club, a volunteer with Burkett Little League Softball, and an election day poll worker in Worcester for many years. She was a past member of the Midland St. School Parents Council, the Educational Association of Worcester, the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts. She served as a president of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Worcester District Dental Society. Claire was a member of Holy Redeemer Church in Chatham and a former member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Worcester.

Above and beyond, Claire was a devoted caregiver to her family. She was a supportive figure who always put the needs of others before her own. She leaves her husband of 62 years, Dr. Thomas H. Cunningham; four children, Patricia Easterly and her husband Timothy of Acton, Deborah Finnerty and her husband David of Chatham, Theresa Cronin and her husband James of Scarborough, Maine, and Thomas Cunningham Jr. and his wife Kathryn of Canton; nine grandchildren, Brendan Finnerty and his wife Teresa of Norfolk, Colleen Finnerty and her wife Holly of Southborough, Liam Finnerty of New York City, Kara Finnerty of Portland, Me., Lauren Behlke of Philadelphia, William Easterly of Acton, Joseph Cronin of Scarborough, Me. and Thomas and Sarah Cunningham, both of Canton; a great-granddaughter Beatriz Finnerty of Norfolk; a brother Francis Cavanaugh of Seminole, Fl.; and a sister-in-law Terry Cavanaugh Cunningham of Fairfax, Va. 

Claire was predeceased by four brothers, James E. Cavanaugh Jr., Lt. Col. Edward Cavanaugh, Raymond Cavanaugh and his wife Helen, and Matthew Cavanaugh and his wife Nancy; five sisters, F. Ethel McMahon and her husband Paul, Mary Rogers and her husband Peter, Catherine Keller and her husband Allen, Marjorie Beauregard and her husband Francis, and Madeline Horan and her husband Francis; and a sister-in-law Marie Cavanaugh.

Claire was a kind and loving soul who cherished family above all else and led her life with grace and dignity.  She was an avid fan of all of her children and grandchildren's endeavors and was a devoted aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.  She was known for leading the periodic Cavanaugh Family Reunions and loved seeing so many at the most recent Cavanaugh Family reunion this past July.

The Cunningham family offers special thanks to Cape Cod Quality Homecare and Liberty Commons of Chatham for their skilled and compassionate care for Claire.  

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, October 18, from 4 to 7 pm at Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. The Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 19, at 11 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, 555 Pleasant St., Worcester. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Worcester State University, 486 Chandler St., Worcester, MA 01602 or St. John’s High School, 378 Main St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.