Obituary for Claire Anne Walsh-Clark (Mariasine)
February 8, 1939 – August 6, 2022
Claire was born in Sherbrooke, Québec on February 8, 1939, where she was raised and grew up in a family of 9 along with her 3 brothers: Edmund, Bob and John. She was the eldest of 5 sisters: Kathleen, Ann Marie, Pamela, Suzan, and Tess, the youngest.
Claire attended Mont Notre-Dame Elementary and High School in Sherbrooke and after graduating she worked at Paton Mills in Sherbrooke where she met her late husband Donald Walsh. Together they had 4 children: Stephen, Bobby, Debbie and Michael.
In 1960, her late husband, Donald was transferred with his company, Lockport Felts, to head out West to start up a new division—so with their 4 young children, they packed up, left Québec and settled in Nanaimo, BC.
After many years in Nanaimo, Claire became very involved in the Nanaimo Theatre Group — acting, singing and dancing came naturally to Claire. From 1985-1995, she taught Ballroom dancing with her good friend, Geraldine.
Claire was a lady of many talents, classical pianist, haute couturière, loved to cook and exchange recipes, loved gardening, loved nature, an adventurist, had joie de vivre, was a people person and always ready for a good laugh, but most of all was a very generous soul.
Her siblings often tried to have her return to Québec to be closer to most of them, but she loved BC and was determined to spend her remaining days there to enjoy the ocean air.
Claire was predeceased by her parents, Margaret McFarland (2002) and Harry Alexander Mariasine (1982), her late husband, Donald Walsh (in 1997), her son, Stephen Walsh (Sandy) (in 1982), and her elder brother, Edmund Mariasine (in 2016).
Claire leaves to mourn her children Bobby Walsh (Nancy) from Dallas, Texas, Debbie Walsh (Irene) from Sooke, BC, and Michael Walsh from Duncan, BC as well as her grandchildren: Bailey from Texas, Destiny from Mississippi, Stephanie Spracklin from Nanaimo, BC and Lee Krasilowez (Marc) from Medicine Hat.
Claire also leaves to mourn many nieces and nephews and their children spread out from Whitehorse to the Maritimes, to Ontario, to Québec and even as far as Asia.
Claire remained particularly close to her siblings over the years and will be sadly missed by Bob (Denyse) from St. Bruno, QC; Kathleen from Whitehorse); Ann Marie (Paul) from Westmount, QC; John (formerly from Peterborough, ON and presently residing in Sherbrooke QC); Pamela from Kingsey Falls, QC; Suzan from Joliette, QC; and Tess (Mahmoud) from Laval, QC.
Claire died peacefully at the Victoria General Hospital where she had been hospitalized for two months before her passing. The Family wishes to thank the staff on 6 North at Victoria General Hospital who loved Claire, provided compassionate and excellent care, even played the piano and sang along with her and most importantly met her where she was each day — even when she was feisty.
There will be no service by request. Claire’s remains will be laid to rest, in part at Bowen Park in Nanaimo, BC close to her son, Stephen Walsh and her late husband, Donald Walsh and the rest sprinkled in areas of Québec.
Claire was born in Sherbrooke, Québec on February 8, 1939, where she was raised and grew up in a family of 9 along with her 3 brothers: Edmund, Bob and John. She was the eldest of 5 sisters: Kathleen, Ann Marie, Pamela, Suzan, and Tess, the youngest.
Claire attended Mont Notre-Dame Elementary and High School in Sherbrooke and after graduating she worked at Paton Mills in Sherbrooke where she met her late husband Donald Walsh. Together they had 4 children: Stephen, Bobby, Debbie and Michael.
In 1960, her late husband, Donald was transferred with his company, Lockport Felts, to head out West to start up a new division—so with their 4 young children, they packed up, left Québec and settled in Nanaimo, BC.
After many years in Nanaimo, Claire became very involved in the Nanaimo Theatre Group — acting, singing and dancing came naturally to Claire. From 1985-1995, she taught Ballroom dancing with her good friend, Geraldine.
Claire was a lady of many talents, classical pianist, haute couturière, loved to cook and exchange recipes, loved gardening, loved nature, an adventurist, had joie de vivre, was a people person and always ready for a good laugh, but most of all was a very generous soul.
Her siblings often tried to have her return to Québec to be closer to most of them, but she loved BC and was determined to spend her remaining days there to enjoy the ocean air.
Claire was predeceased by her parents, Margaret McFarland (2002) and Harry Alexander Mariasine (1982), her late husband, Donald Walsh (in 1997), her son, Stephen Walsh (Sandy) (in 1982), and her elder brother, Edmund Mariasine (in 2016).
Claire leaves to mourn her children Bobby Walsh (Nancy) from Dallas, Texas, Debbie Walsh (Irene) from Sooke, BC, and Michael Walsh from Duncan, BC as well as her grandchildren: Bailey from Texas, Destiny from Mississippi, Stephanie Spracklin from Nanaimo, BC and Lee Krasilowez (Marc) from Medicine Hat.
Claire also leaves to mourn many nieces and nephews and their children spread out from Whitehorse to the Maritimes, to Ontario, to Québec and even as far as Asia.
Claire remained particularly close to her siblings over the years and will be sadly missed by Bob (Denyse) from St. Bruno, QC; Kathleen from Whitehorse); Ann Marie (Paul) from Westmount, QC; John (formerly from Peterborough, ON and presently residing in Sherbrooke QC); Pamela from Kingsey Falls, QC; Suzan from Joliette, QC; and Tess (Mahmoud) from Laval, QC.
Claire died peacefully at the Victoria General Hospital where she had been hospitalized for two months before her passing. The Family wishes to thank the staff on 6 North at Victoria General Hospital who loved Claire, provided compassionate and excellent care, even played the piano and sang along with her and most importantly met her where she was each day — even when she was feisty.
There will be no service by request. Claire’s remains will be laid to rest, in part at Bowen Park in Nanaimo, BC close to her son, Stephen Walsh and her late husband, Donald Walsh and the rest sprinkled in areas of Québec.