Claire Conklin

East Lyme — Claire Lorraine (Byxbee) Conklin, 88, of Niantic, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, at Gladeview Health Center in Old Saybrook.

She was born on June 21, 1929, in Stamford, to Robert Moore Byxbee and Edith (Webb) Byxbee. Claire lived most of her life in Stamford. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Tom, for 61 years. In 1997, they moved to Niantic to live many more happy years until Tom’s death in 2009.

In Stamford, Claire was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Stamford Firefighters Local 786 for many years. Claire and Tom were both actively involved in the German American Cultural Center of Stamford. Later, while in Niantic, Claire was a member of The Lyme Village Voices Choir.

Claire is also predeceased by her brother, Robert L. Byxbee and his wife, Grace, of Stamford.

Claire leaves behind her treasured family of her children and their spouses, Tom and Jeanne Conklin of New Milford; Kevin Conklin and Lorraine Bassett of Hudson, Mass.; Brian and Rita Conklin of East Haddam; and Lori and Matthew Sposato of Littleton, Colo.; as well as her nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. followed by a service from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, at Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic.