Eddy, Claire Ann (Gworek)
Claire Ann Gworek Eddy August 24, 1933 – May 26, 2023
Claire's unwavering concern for family, friends, and complete strangers brought her great joy during her long life. She approached life with a positive and fun spirit that gave those she touched a reason to smile. For 40 years she worked at Hartford Hospital in the maternity unit and then the OBGYN clinic. After retiring from nursing, she became the kind and supportive voice on Connecticut's Helpline, using her resources to assist immigrants to gain legal status and citizenship. She gave her time to the St. Mary's prayer line, provide rides to seniors, and the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative. She loved telling the story of a community service day with the Farmington Police Department and giving rapper 50 Cent her gloves to warm his hands on a frigid day on his estate in Farmington.
Her mind was sharp to the end while age caught up to her physically. Following her example of being kind and warm, family and friends comforted her and said heartfelt goodbyes during the wonderful hospice care she received from Uconn Health as she passed peacefully to be with her husband of 55 years, Julian “Ted” Eddy, Jr.
Born to Jacob and Emilia Gworek in Rockville, Connecticut, Claire had four big-hearted, fun-loving older siblings who preceded her in death: Richard, Edward, Joseph, and Helen. She was a graduate of Rockville High School, the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing, and Central Connecticut State University. She married Ted Eddy of West Hartford in her last year of nursing school and they raised three boys in Farmington, all of whom survive her: Paul of West Hartford, Connecticut (Elizabeth Normen), Alan of Madison, Connecticut (Tracey Lane), and John of Orinda, California (Lynn Uzzo).
Her career at Hartford Hospital started in the maternity ward in the delivery room working the 3 to 11 p.m. shift. While her boys were in elementary and middle school, Claire was the school nurse at West District Elementary School in Unionville. She then joined the OBGYN outpatient clinic at Hartford Hospital serving Hartford residents helping mothers have healthier pregnancies and babies. Rising to head of the clinic, Claire led the team with an inclusive and caring style. Initially motivated by changes in registered nurse education requirements, Claire became an enthusiastic student late in her career and turned her associates degree in nursing into a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Central Connecticut State University when she was 55 years old.
She doted on her grandchildren Christopher Eddy (Gretchen Bentley Eddy), Avery Eddy (Tim O'brien), Michael Eddy (Megan Eddy), Julia Eddy (Ali Procopio), Elizabeth Eddy, and Courtney Eddy, her great-grandchildren Oscar O'brien and Sawyer Eddy, step-grandchildren Colin Lane and Zachary Lane, and many nieces and nephews. She enjoyed their company and sharing pictures and stories of their milestones and escapades. She was devoted to her friends including lifelong friend Carol Bielefeld who she spoke to every day and who was by her side in her last days.
Please join family and friends of Claire Eddy in a celebration of her life with calling hours on Monday, June 5 from 4:00-7:00pm at The Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main St., Rt. 4, Unionville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 6 at 10:00am in the Church of St. Mary Star of the Sea, 145 Main St., Unionville followed by burial at St. Mary Cemetery, Avon. To honor her generous spirit of giving, please consider a gift to the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (https://www.ctbhi.org/) in memory of Claire Eddy. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.ahernfuneralhome.com.