Chambers, Gloria C.
On the afternoon of February 10, 2024, Gloria Claire Chambers (née Mckay) passed on from this life peacefully at the age of 102. Known to friends as Claire and to family as Gloria, Mrs. Chambers was born Cleara Louise Mckay on June 10, 1921 in Linstead, St. Catherine, Jamaica WI. Claire was the daughter of Vida Matilda Gyles and Percy T. Mckay. She attended Kingston Technical High School and studied to become a nurse midwife in Kingston. Shortly thereafter, Claire emigrated from Jamaica to the United States, first working in New York and finally settling in Hartford, CT after accepting a position as a nurse in the delivery room at St. Francis Hospital in 1948.
Born and baptized in the Church of England, Claire converted to the Catholic faith and in 1948, she married Alfred Anthony Chambers at St. Benedict Center in Hartford. The pair remained in Hartford, buying a home, where they raised their family. Claire worked at St. Francis Hospital until 1979, when she retired from nursing to “take a harder job”, joining her husband fulltime in their small business, Crossroads Dairy Shoppe, on Albany Avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers worked in their grocery store bringing West Indian and West African foods to the growing population of Caribbean people in the area, but more importantly, forging and fostering community in that space. Their son Mark, joined his parents in daily operation of the store until his untimely death. At the time of Mr. Chambers' retirement, Claire continued the business in co-ownership, with her son Gregory.
Claire was a long-time communicant of St. Justin Parish, now St. Justin-st. Michael Parish in Hartford. She was a member of the Legion of Mary, a founding member of the Martha and Mary Guild, and an active participant in the Parish Council. She opened her home semi-annually to host the rosary and frequently made rosaries to share with others. She was a Sunday School teacher for St. Justin's First Communion classes for decades, introducing many young people to the Catholic faith and ushering them through that milestone. Claire was one of the first recipients of the Pierre Toussaint Award given to “distinguished persons for their positive leadership, extraordinary efforts in support of human life, human rights & social justice, spiritual values and quality education for all” by the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Claire was an avid traveler, often sharing stories about visits to Fatima in Portugal, Lourdes in France, to Rome, and the Vatican. She loved gardening, having a sunporch filled with house plants and a bounty of colorful roses, peonies, hibiscus flowers, and other annuals in her yard. All this chronicled in photos that she would show her visitors during the cold winter months.
Claire was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Alfred Anthony, their son, Alfred Mark, her brother Ronald (Roy) G. Mckay, sister-in-law Viola Mckay, her mother, Vida Matilda Gyles, son-in-law, Mark A.R. Smith, her “sister' Mercilyn Bowen, and her dear friend Genny Townsend. She leaves friends, family, and chosen family including seven daughters - Pamela Ann of King of Prussia, PA; Mary Patricia of Bloomfield; Jeanette Therese of Hartford, Clare Marie and husband John of Silver Spring, MD; Elizabeth Anne of Bloomfield; Suzanne M. and husband Waldo of New Haven; Judith M. of Bloomfield; a niece - Lily Rose and husband Matthew of Harwinton; a son - Gregory Martin of New Hartford; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren Christopher Mark of Silver Spring, MD; Aimee Catherine of Boston, MA; Carmel Annalisa of Hanover, MD; Gregory Bryce of Hartford; Keith Anthony of Tokyo, JP; Sarah Elizabeth, her husband Maurice, daughter Malia Nicole, and son Maxwell Roy of Windsor; Simone Elizabeth of Windsor; Jonathan Alfred of Trumbull; and Samantha Claire of Harwinton; a “son” - Yvon D. Alexandre and family of Wallingford; and a host of cousins in the US, Jamaica, and Canada. She was the godmother of numerous children in and around Hartford and loved by many more.
The viewing and visitation with the family will be held on Monday, February, 19th from 5:00-7:00 P.M. at The Lodge, 130 Deerfield Rd, Windsor, CT 06095. The family will also receive friends on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, from 10:00 am-11:00 am followed by The Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. at her beloved St. Justin-st. Michael Church, 230 Blue Hills Ave Hartford, followed by interment at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33073, https://foodforthepoor.org/, in memoriam of “Gloria Claire Chambers”. To leave condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com