Claire FitzGerald

Claire Theresa FitzGerald, age 97, of Yonkers, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025, after a short illness. Born in New York City on June 25, 1928, to Anna and John FitzGerald, she was the first of six children. She lived on Cox Avenue in Yonkers almost her entire life. Claire attended St Barnabas schools and graduated from St. Barnabas High School in 1945.

Claire started her professional life directly out of high school at age 17 at the Metropolitan Insurance Company in New York City. A year later, she started at the Milk Market Administrators USDA and continued to work for the federal government her entire career, retiring after 50 years.

Claire had many dear friends through the years and dedicated herself to her large family. Claire doted on her 24 nieces and nephews and never forgot a birthday, holiday, or special event. She traveled extensively to visit her friends, and her siblings and their families, taking her parents on long car rides to see them. She became the sole caregiver of her parents who lived well into their 90s.

Claire’s kindness and generosity showed no bounds. She hosted out of town friends and family at her home, brought them to see NYC sites and restaurants, and did more airport pick-ups than you could count. She embraced her friends in the New York area and the Cox Avenue neighborhood, always willing to help without a complaint or harsh word. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Claire was the beloved sister of Ann Waterman of Venice, FL. She is predeceased by her parents, her brother-in-law Philip Waterman, her sister and brother-in-law Marie and Tom Karl, her brothers Jack, Gerald and Tom FitzGerald, and her nephew John Karl. She leaves her sisters-in-law Cathy FitzGerald of N. Kingstown, RI, Ginny FitzGerald of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Marilyn FitzGerald Palmieri of Raleigh, NC. Claire was attended to in her later years by nieces and her godson who helped her through her transition at her senior living facility. Special thanks to Deb FitzGerald, TC FitzGerald Hart, Tara FitzGerald Geraghty, Noreen FitzGerald Barr, Kevin Condon, and Jan Waterman Cohen.

Visitation will be at Hodder Farenga Funeral Home, 899 McLean Avenue in Yonkers, on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 9:00 – 10:30 A.M., followed by a mass at St. Barnabas Catholic Church at 10:45a.m. She will be interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.