Claire R. Rivard

SANFORD Claire R. Rivard, 85, died early Wednesday at the Newton Center following a long illness. She was born in Norway, ME February 5, 1923 a daughter of Odias & Eva (Dion) Demers. Claire moved to Sanford as an infant and was educated in Sanford schools and graduated with the class of 1942 at Sanford High. As a family, Claire along with husband Paul and children Paul, Jr. and Donald collected old bottles, rocks, and sea shells. Her husband said she was an excellent cook and seamstress. She would often help with sewing auto tops and upholster seats in their antique autos.She was a communicant of St. Therse of Lisieux Parish Notre Dame Church in Springvale.Claire is survived by her husband of 65 years J.H. Paul Rivard of Sanford, her two sons Paul E. and his wife Sukhi of Springvale and Donald A. and his wife Regina of Franklin. Her brother Edmund Demers of Farmington, NH. Four grandchildren, Sonya Benham and her husband Sean of Chicago, Christopher Lee Rivard of Lowell, MA, Andre Rivard and wife Amy of Lebanon and Gabriel Rivard and his fiancee Liz Jennings of Boston. Three great grandchildren, Julian Benham, Forrest Rivard and Henri Rivard and several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter St., Sanford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 9:30 AM in St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Notre Dame Church in Springvale. Burial will follow in St. Ignatius Cemetery. Family Flowers Only Please! Memorial contributions may be made to ALS of Northern New England Chapter. The Concord Center 10 Ferry St., Suite 438, Box 314, Concord, NH 03301.To leave a message of condolence please use the "condolences" tab to the left.