Following is the obituary for CLAIRE MARIE SANSONE, submitted for her family by the Harding Funeral Home.

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Claire Marie Sansone, 85, of Weston, died suddenly and peacefully on Jan. 11, 2024.

She was born on the third day of May in 1938 to Armand Eusebe Rainville and Claire Frances Smith Rainville in Jamaica, Queens, N.Y.  

She graduated from Queens College with a bachelor of arts degree in June of 1960. While attending Queens College, as a sorority sister of Delta Zeta, she met Ronny Sansone, a brother of Beta Phi. She was crowned “sweetheart” of Beta Phi.

Claire married Ronald (Ronny) Philip Sansone on May 12, 1962, in Queens. Claire and Ronald bought a house together in Floral Park, Long Island, and gave birth to Janine Ann Sansone Levine, Ronald Philip Sansone Jr. and Robert Andrew Sansone. 

Moving from Floral Park to Weston in 1974, Ronald and Claire moved into their beloved family home for the next nearly 50 years.

Claire happily worked for more than a decade as a State of Connecticut Department of Children Youth Services social worker. Claire lovingly placed foster children in safe homes and arranged adoptions for caring families. Throughout the years after her retirement, she would receive many handwritten letters and pictures from her adopted and foster placements thanking her for helping to change their lives.

Claire loved to spend time with her family most of all. Orchestrating wonderful trips for the whole family to Canada, Cape Cod, Pennsylvania, Ireland, Italy, Florida and Maine was something that made her very happy.

Claire would always put herself second. Claire would be the first to ask how you were doing. Claire could just smile and make anyone feel happy. It was a gift given to her.

Claire is survived by her children, Janine, Ronald and Robert; their spouses, Stuart, Kim, and Kristina, and grandchildren, Isabelle and Sophia Levine and Enzo Sansone.

She was pre-deceased by her husband, Ronald; parents, Armand and Claire Rainville, and brothers, Armand and Thomas Rainville.

A private graveside service will be held Saturday, Jan. 20, at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport. Claire loved yellow flowers.

Funeral arrangements are by Harding Funeral Home in Westport.