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Claire Phelan Obituary

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Claire Phelan

Milford, CT

February 5, 1927 - August 23, 2014

Claire Phelan Obituary

Claire Coulombe Phelan, died Saturday, August 23,2014. She was born February 5, 1927 to the late Mary Moriarty Coulombe and Lionel Coulombe. She was one of seven brothers and sisters, and a lifelong resident of Milford. She was employed by the Metro North Railroad, formerly the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad for 32 years, and a proud union member. In her retirement she found renewed passion in service to her community. She was chairwoman of Milford Human Resources Development and Family and Youth Services Agency. She was also on the board of directors of combined Parishes Action Committee. Beth El Center, past board member, executive committee and allocations representative of the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut. Claire has been the City of Milford representative to the regional Mental Health Board, and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Bridges. She has served on the executive committee and member of the State Board of Mental Health and Addictive Services, as well as Chair of Area Council 6, of the local Council of Regional Health Board. She was a lifelong Democrat, serving in many capacities with the Democratic Town Committee. She was an avid reader, belonged to a book club. She participated in Bible study and was a member of her beloved knitwit club- sharing life time friendships in all these organizations. In 2008 she was named one of Milford Living Treasures; in 2007 the State of Connecticut, named February 5th as Claire Phelan Day. Claire was predeceased by her Husband Robert Edward Phelan, and her oldest son Robert Edward Phelan Jr. She was also predeceased by her brothers Lionel ,Raymond ,and Robert Coulombe, and her sisters Marie Slavin,Bernice Hebert, and Rita Nomjeko. She is survived by her children James Dennis Phelan of Pa., and Daughters Elizabeth Rivera and her husband Nelson Rivera, and Kathleen Phelan , all of Milford; her daughter in law Ethel Phelan of West Haven CT,, her sister in law Rosemary Phelan (husband Peter), Stella Coulombe, NJ, and Roselie Coulombe of Georgia. , eleven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, a great great grandson, and many loving nieces, nephews and beloved friends. Visitation will be held, Wednesday August 27, 2014 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Smith & Sefcik Funeral Home, 135 N. Broad Street, Milford. Funeral Thursday, leaving at 10:30 am from the funeral home for a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Agnes Church Milford at 11:00 am. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery Milford. If one wishes, donations can be made in Claire's name to Bridges of Milford CT.

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Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Claire Phelan.