Claire L. Connolly

Claire L. Connolly, 83, of Huntington, (formerly of Winamac) went home to be with the Lord at 5:39 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at Parkview Huntington Hospital.

She was born on March 30, 1932, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the late Victor Emil and Edna (Belland) Mars.

Claire married James T. Connolly on April 18, 1953, at the Bethel Baptist Church, Minneapolis. They met in Winamac when Jim picked her up while she was walking home with a friend. Jim asked Claire’s father for her hand in marriage, and her father replied, “gladly.” They were engaged for 15 months before the wedding day. Their honeymoon was a trip to Seattle, Washington.

They moved to Ft. Wayne in July 2006 and then to the Heritage of Huntington in May 2007.

Claire was a lifelong homemaker, however she did work at Northwest Airlines for three years. She was an avid Purdue fan, an outstanding cook and loved to entertain. Claire was a member of the Bethel Bible Church and the Christian Women’s Club in Winamac. She also had attended Salamonie Church of the Brethren.

Claire loved her family very much and will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her son Dane T. [Lori] Connolly of Omaha, Nebraska; daughters Holly D. [Mark] Sale of Huntington and Vicki L. [Jon] Canfield of Fort Wayne; granddaughters: Nikki [Craig] Hurley, Amber [Jeff] Rodibaugh and Kyla [Joe] McMurray; grandsons: Robert [Tammy] Canfield and Matthew Canfield; 10 great-grandchildren; brother Victor Emil Mars Jr. of Lady Lake, Florida; and sister Marilyn Hunter Cramer of Winamac.

She was preceded in death by her parents Victor Emil Mars Sr. and Edna (Belland) Mars; and husband James T. Connolly.

Visitation and funeral services were held at Bethel Bible Church, Winamac. Burial took place in McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial contributions may be given to Bethel Bible Church, Winamac, or Salamonie Church of the Brethren, Warren.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.