Obituary of Claire A Smith

Claire A Smith (nee Gravel) of Sun City Center, Florida died after a short illness on March 4, 2021.  She was born in 1922 in Lawrence, MA to J Elphage Gravel and Alma (Gervais) Gravel.  Claire moved to Washington, DC in 1942 to work toward the World War II effort.  Claire was married in 1948 to Lee Mason Smith, until his death in 1962. They lived in Edgewater, MD.

Claire began work in the Panama Canal Administration but moved to the United Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRA), which provided food and other necessities to those in the displaced person camps after the war.  This effort was discontinued in 1947.  Claire then moved to the US Postal Service as a translator.  She studied at American University and George Washington University in Washington, DC.  Claire worked for the International division of the Postal Service and lived and worked in Europe, Asia and South America until her retirement in 1979.

Federal Service ended with her retirement, but she continued to work at the Maryland House of Delegates and volunteered as a costume and set designer for various summer theaters in Annapolis, MD.  Claire moved to Sun City Center in 1996, where she was active in the Sew and Sews and TOPS.  

Claire was predeceased by her sister, Terry (Gravel) Gervais.  Claire has cousins in New England, Montreal and Ottawa (Canada).  Her cousin, Lynne Murphy and husband, Donald James may be contacted for further information.  No services are planned at this time due to Covid 19.  A Celebration of her Life will be held at a later date as the virus permits. 

Thanks to the staff at Aston Gardens for making the last few years of Claire’s life so happy, and to Sun City Center Funeral Home who is assisting with details of Claire’s death.