Claire T. Burkelman

Claire T. Burkelman, 102, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Briarfield Manor in Austintown.

Claire was born December 2, 1921, in Port Jervis, NY, a daughter of Francis and Florence (Swartwout) Thomassen.

Claire graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ in 1939, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in Psychology and Music from Denison University in 1944. A proud member of Alpha Phi sorority, Claire served as President of her local chapter while at Denison and continued to work on behalf of the sorority following her graduation. 

During her summer break from college, Claire supported the war effort by working in an aircraft factory during WWII. Upon graduation, Claire was employed by the New York Telephone Company in the business office before she was married. Following the death of her husband, Jack Prior, she worked as assistant to the minister and later as financial secretary at Morrow Memorial Methodist Church in Maplewood, NJ while caring for her three sons. 

Claire lived in New Jersey, Maryland and Georgia before moving to Canfield in 2019 to live with her youngest son and daughter-in-law. She attended Boardman United Methodist Church.

Claire was an accomplished pianist and organist, sang in the Chorale Society and played handbells in her church choir. When her three sons were young, she volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America as a Cub Scout Pack Leader. Later on, she became a world traveler and enjoyed playing contract bridge, sailing, and was an avid golfer, playing into her 80’s. 

Claire led a life full of adventure. She visited over 100 countries, always excited to learn as much as she could about the customs and people of the world. She loved to talk about her adventures of ballooning over Africa, white water rafting in New Zealand, swimming in a volcanic crater in Antarctica and, at the age of 73, camping at 17,000 feet in Tibet! She instilled this love of travel in her grandchildren. She took each of them on a trip of their choosing ranging from Hawaii and Alaska to Europe and Africa, affording them experiences and memories with their beloved grandmother which will last a lifetime. 

Claire is survived by three sons, Thomas W. (Laura) Prior of Gray, TN, Donald H. (Linda) Prior of Belpre, OH, and James E. (Jeanne) Prior of Canfield, OH; eight grandchildren, Lydia (JT) Blalock, Daniel Prior, Matthew (Alyssa) Prior, Jonathan Prior, Robert (Missy) Prior, Anna (Shaun Cespedes) Prior, Kevin (Melanie) Prior and Katherine (Ryan) Carew; and six great-grandchildren, Andrew Prior, Leah, Eleanor, Silas, and Adam Blalock, and Anthony Prior. She also leaves behind her nieces Kathy Horlacher and Betsy Thomassen and her nephew Hank Thomassen.

Besides her parents, Claire was preceded in death by her husbands, Jack W. Prior whom she married on April 24, 1948, died September 29, 1965, Roy K. Wolke whom she married on December 30, 1967, died March 16, 1973, and Charles Burkelman whom she married on November 24, 2001, died December 7, 2012; and her brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Ruth Thomassen. 

Claire’s family would like to acknowledge her bridge partners, Donna, Claranne and Virginia. She enjoyed their frequent get togethers at The Inn at Poland Way.

There will be a memorial service celebrating Claire’s life on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 11a.m. in the Chapel at Boardman United Methodist Church, 6809 Market Street in Boardman with Reverend Peg Welch officiating.

The family requests that material tributes take the form of contributions to The Salvation Army. 

Arrangements are being handled by Davis-Becker Funeral Home, 8536 Market Street in Boardman.