Claire H. (staples) Woelflein

East Hampstead, NH: Claire H. (Staples) Woelflein, 89, of East Hampstead died on April 22, 2014 at her home.

Born, raised, and educated in Haverhill, MA, daughter of the late Harold and Helen (Ring) Staples, she was a member of the St. James High School Class of 1942. In her younger years, Mrs. Woelflein was employed as an x-ray technician at the Lahey Clinic in Boston. She later was the long time receptionist for Lannon Richards and Company, a Haverhill accounting firm. She had also been employed as a tax examiner at the Internal Revenue Service.

She was a former resident of Connecticut in the early years of her marriage and returned to the area settling first in Atkinson, NH and later in Hampstead in 1969. She enjoyed being a wintertime resident of Vero Beach Florida where she was active at St. Helen's Parish. She also enjoyed spending summers in Sanbornville, NH, where she was active at St. Anthony of Padua Parish. She returned to East Hampstead in 1998 and has been a member of St. Anne's Parish where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Tabernacle Society. A former member of Court Holy Angels of the Catholic Daughters of America, she was an accomplished pianist and organist serving as organist at several parishes. She also enjoyed reading, playing board games and cards, and most importantly spending time at Lovell Lake with her family.

The wife of the late John "Jack" Woelflein, Jr., she is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Anne and Nick Sarbanis of Hampstead, NH, two sons and daughters-in-law, John H. III and Debbie Woelflein of Nashua, NH, and Michael J. and Karyn Woelflein of Yarmouth, ME, eight grandchildren, Meghan Sarbanis, Julie (Sarbanis) Roy, Matthew Sarbanis and his wife Dolie, Jason Sarbanis, Beth (Woelflein) James and her husband Ross, Laura Woelflein, John H. Woelflein, IV, and Cael Woelflein, three great-grandchildren, Rylan, Claire, and Eleanor James, a brother-in-law, Kevin G. Woelflein and his wife Ann of Alexandria, VA, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her grandson, Brendan Sarbanis.

Relatives and friends may call on Sunday, April 27, 2014 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street, Plaistow, NH. Her funeral will be held on Monday at 9:30 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. Anne's Church, Emerson Avenue, Hampstead, NH. A reception in the Church Hall will immediately follow the Mass. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations be made to the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, 25 Walker Street, Concord, NH 03301; or St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Sanbornville, NH; or St. Anne's Parish Food Pantry, Emerson Avenue, Hampstead, NH. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website, www.brooksidechapelfh.com.