Claire M. Pollard's Obituary
METHUEN, MA – Claire M. Pollard, 98, died peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2023 following a brief illness. She was born in Methuen and was the daughter of the late George E. Pollard and Martha E. (Whitaker) Pollard.
A longtime Methuen resident, Claire enjoyed spending her summers at Seabrook Beach, ultimately retiring to the beach in 1989. She later moved to Salem, NH.
Claire graduated from Edward F. Searles High School in 1942. She was a longtime leader of the Searles Tenney Joint Reunion Committee. She attended her 80th high school reunion last year. In 2018, Claire was honored to be inducted into the Searles Tenney Alumni Association. She attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA.
Following college, she worked for National Geographic in Washington, DC before beginning a 37-year career as the Patient Account Manager at Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen, retiring in 1987. During her career, Claire was a leader in her profession, serving on the boards of the Massachusetts, New England, and National Association of Patient Account Management.
She was an elected Town Meeting member in Methuen and served for nearly 10 years as a member of the Seabrook, NH Beach Village Zoning Board of Appeals. In 1986, she ran for state representative in the 15th Essex District. Ms. Pollard was a member of the Ladies Sodality at St. Monica Parish, the Women’s Civic Club of Methuen, MA and the Seabrook (NH) Women’s Club. When Claire and her sister, Jacquie, moved to the Club at Meadowbrook in Salem, NH, they co-chaired an active Social Committee bringing the new 55+ retirement community together to build new friendships and to foster an active social environment.
Ms. Pollard is survived by her sister, Jacqueline M. Pollard of Salem, NH; her sister-in-law, Betty I. (Duvall) Pollard of Methuen, two nieces, Sharon M. Pollard and her husband, Thomas R. Lussier of Methuen, Patricia S. George and her husband, Edward G. of Salem, NH; two nephews, Michael N. and his wife, Maureen C. (Chamberlain) Pollard of Methuen, and K. Jeffrey and his wife, Laura J. (Grelle) Pollard of Groton; three grandnieces, Catherine G. (George) Toner and her husband, Gregory W. of Rehoboth, MA, Haley S. Pollard of Charlestown, MA, and Morgan E. Pollard of Somerville, MA; two grandnephews, Christopher D. and his wife, Laurie F. (Smith) Palermo of West Chester, PA, and Kenneth P. Pollard of South Boston, MA, three great-grandnephews, Adam and Sean Palermo and Evan Toner, and several cousins. She was predeceased by her brother, Kenneth H. Pollard.
Claire’s family wish to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Pedro Sanz and Katie Mitchell whose compassionate care allowed Claire to enjoy a remarkably long and consequential life.
Family and friends will honor and celebrate Claire’s life by gathering for her calling hours from 4 – 7 PM on Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM on Tuesday at St. Monica Church, 212 Lawrence Street, Methuen. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen.
For directions or to send an online condolence, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Pollard family.
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