Claire L. (Ayotte/St. Laurent) Ethier, 91, of East Falmouth, MA, formerly of Norwood, MA, died Monday, December 26, 2023, at Falmouth Hospital in Falmouth, MA, following a short illness.
Claire was the loving wife of Laurent B. “Larry” Ethier, who preceded her in death April 2, 2018. Claire and Larry were life-long friends, began their courtship in spring 1992, married June 30, 1996, and shared over 25 years of love, laughter, travel, car shows, and happy times with both their families and many friends.
Born and reared in Woonsocket, RI, Claire was the oldest child of the late Conrad O. and Rose A. (Brousseau) Ayotte. She was a 1950 graduate of St. Clare’s High School. Claire was an accomplished classical pianist who studied under the renowned liturgical composer and teacher C. Alexander Peloquin and performed on-air for local radio stations. In 1970, Claire segued her musical talent to the pipe organ and began her studies with James P. Moritz, organist and Boys Choir Director at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Norwood, MA; she subsequently took over Moritz’s duties and served there for 16 years.
Claire also studied under Richard J. Griffin, Chapter Dean of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and was a member in good standing of the AGO for more than 50 years. Claire earned Certificates in Courses I and II of Church Music at St. Paul’s Choir School in Boston, MA, and performed on pipe organs with one to four manuals. She served at numerous churches in the Boston area and Cape Cod to include St. Patrick Catholic Church, Natick; St. Denis Catholic Church, Westwood; Mission Church, Roxbury; St. Mary’s Parish churches, Dedham, Walpole, Somerville, Cambridge; Grace Episcopal Church, Norwood; St. Paul Episcopal, Dedham; and St. Anthony’s in East Falmouth, MA, where Claire continued to serve on occasion until age 85. Of special note was Claire’s assistance at a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.
Although Claire was primarily a creative artist who was also an accomplished seamstress and dabbled in ceramics and painting, she was her children’s firm, guiding force and a pragmatic businesswoman. Claire was an Avon and then Mary Kay representative and only regretted that the Pink Cadillac never made it to her driveway. She was a member of the New England Piano Teachers’ Association and provided private piano lessons at home and at St. Catherine’s Catholic school. She was warm, kind, encouraging and friendly to all; strangers were merely friends Claire had yet to make. She was witty, enjoyed laughs and entertaining, and was ever elegant, poised, and gracious.
In her later years, Claire embraced the wonders of current technology to keep up to date with family’s and friends’ life events and daily activities via social media and video chats. Watching the “little ones” grow brought Claire special joy.
Claire’s Catholic faith was the bedrock upon which she built her life, and her example of God’s love was a beacon of hope and light to all who knew her. All who were blessed with Claire’s company will remember her with respect and admiration.
Claire is survived by children Susan St. Laurent Powell, Robert W. St. Laurent, Diane C. St. Laurent, sister Pauline Ayotte, RJM, granddaughter Rachel A. Powell and wife Kayla Copeland, niece Paulette (St. Laurent) Carrigan, grand-nephew and godson Christopher Gaudreau, nephews Roger, Billy, and David Tremblay, stepsons Steven L. Ethier and wife Linda, David R. Ethier and wife Sharon, and stepdaughter Michelle and husband Jim Siddall; grandchildren Kristin and husband Jervie Castro, Christopher Ethier and wife Tricia, Amber and husband Don Jeffer, Micaela and husband Mark Vanderzyden, Rachel and Jessica Siddall; great-grandchildren Tessa, Tanner, Natalie and Noelle; and a large, loving network of cousins, grand- and great-grandnieces and their families, and many special professional and personal friends. Claire was preceded in death by her parents Conrad and Rose, grandson Ross M. Powell, brother Oscar C. Ayotte, and former husband William E. St. Laurent.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 167 East Falmouth Highway, East Falmouth, MA; arrangements by Chapman Funerals & Cremations, Falmouth, MA. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 26, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Precious Blood in Woonsocket, RI, arrangements by Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, Woonsocket, RI, after which Claire’s cremains will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery in Cumberland, RI, next to her beloved Larry.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either of Claire’s favorite charities — St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Habitat for Humanity — or to the charity or church of your choice.