Obituary: Clare (Dowd) Hayes, 91, Devoted to Church and Society

Clare (Dowd) Hayes, 91, of Portsmouth, died Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at home surrounded by her loving family.

She was the wife of the late Capt. Edward F. Hayes USN (Retired).

Born in Holyoke, MA on July 23, 1922, she was the daughter of the late James J. and Clare (Sheehan) Dowd.

Mrs. Hayes was an honors graduate of the College of New Rochelle where, until her death, she served as a class officer. She received both the Angela Merici and Ursula Laurus Awards from New Rochelle College for her dedicated service to church and society. She earned a Master’s Degree in Spanish, from Assumption College. Clare was a member of Swanhurst Chorus and the St. Barnabas Choir. She was also a former member of the Navy Choristers. She was an active volunteer at the Portsmouth Public Library and was also a volunteer for the Newport Music Festival for over 30 years.

She is survived by her children, Edward F. Hayes Jr. and his wife Elizabeth of Portsmouth, RI, Stephen Hayes of Portsmouth, RI, and her daughter Maureen Helfrich and her husband David of Ellicott City, MD, her sisters, Sister Beth Dowd O.S.U, Sister Mary Dowd O.S.U, and Ann Dowd Connelly, eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The cornerstones of her life were her faith, her family and her music.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, April 21, 2014, from 4-8pm in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at 9:00am from the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth.
Burial will be in Newport Memorial Park, Howland Avenue, Middletown.

Donations in her memory may be made to Songcatchers Inc., 44 Liberty Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801.