Following a short and intense battle with cancer, our beloved Claire passed peacefully on January 26, 2019 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Claire and her family moved to Victoria in 1981. She attended Fairburn Elementary School, Cedar Hill School and Mt. Douglas High School. After high school, she spent a year at West Heath School in Kent, England allowing her to enjoy time with her extended family. In 1998 she graduated with her BA (Hons) History from Carleton University, and in 2001 completed her Masters of Library and Information Studies at McGill University.
Claire very much enjoyed her career as an Archivist and Librarian at the BC Archives and took great pride in her work and her public service.
Left to cherish her memories are her children (Sophia and Liam), her mom and dad (Jillian and David), brother and sister-in-law (Graham and Kerry), nephew (Daniel), her large extended family in Europe, Australia and Canada, as well as many friends and work colleagues.
A Celebration of Claire’s Life will be held on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at 10:00 am in the Harbour Room at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Hotel, 100 Harbour Road, Victoria, BC.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation, in Claire’s memory, to the BC Cancer Foundation.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
16 Responses
Dear Liam, Sophia, Jillian and David,
I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your mother and daughter. Liam, I remember meeting you and your mom when you were just a little boy coming into school. Your mom was obviously so proud of you and your sister, and your grandparents were always there as a source of support for the three of you. I hope that you will find great comfort in one another, and that the beautiful memories you have of your mom will always remind you of how much she loves you.
I am thinking of you.
We are deeply saddened to hear this horrible news. Claire was such a devoted mother and daughter and will be sorely missed. We always looked forward to Jillian, Claire, Sophia and Liam knocking on our door on Hallowe’en or for various fundraisers. We just can’t believe she is gone far too soon. We send you warm healing energy from Maui as you move forward after this devastating loss.
With sincere sympathy,
Doug and Irene Edwards
My condolences to Claire’s family and colleagues. She was a wonderful, caring person whom I was fortunate to know and work with at the BC Archives. Beside being a devoted daughter and mum, Claire was a professional who took that role equally seriously. She was a part of my life for only a few years but I think of her often. She was fun to be around.
Claire’s warm and bright personality is one of the few I remember from my time at Fairburn Elementary – and playing with her at Blair Park – just near her house!
She was two years ahead of me, and in my brother, Kent’s grade. She was kind. I remember this distinctly.
Of course, working with Graham in my teenage years kept her in my mind.
My heart breaks for your loss. I can’t imagine the void she leaves. She clearly accomplished much in her too short life.
May her memory be a blessing.
With profound sympathy,
Claire Hatcher
Dear David, Jillian, Sophia and Liam – I was lucky enough to work with Claire at the BC Archives for many years and I will always remember her. She was dedicated to her work, a wonderful organizer and she cared so much about our collections and her role in making them accessible. But we all knew that her first love was her family, most especially her children. It is very hard now to grasp that she is gone, but I hope that you will take some comfort in knowing that she will be missed, and that you are not alone in your sadness. Claire was a fine person, and it is just heartbreaking that we have lost her at such a young age. Please take care of yourselves, for Claire.
Thank you for being a wonderful and caring neighbour. We will miss you.
Claire showed all of us at the Royal BC Museum and BC Archives what it looked like to be engaged with our community and proud public servants. I will miss her enthusiasm, humour and support. My heartfelt condolences for your loss.
Mr and Mr Gilbert, Sophia and Liam,
I can not begin to speak to your loss… myself, not seeing Claire daily, hearing her hallway rants about work, her lemon loaf, she was a large presence in my daily life.
We all are walking alone right now, but this pain shall pass, and all the wonderful and humorous memories of Claire, will flood in and fill that void.
Blessing to everyone
Dear David, Jillian, Sophia and Liam
I am so sorry to hear that Claire, your Mom and daughter, lost her battle with this terrible disease this past weekend. I know you will all miss her so much but I also know that she would have found solace in all the love and support she received from her whole family. My thoughts are with you and my hope is that you will eventually be able to draw strength and be at peace when you think of your wonderful mom and daughter.
I am so sorry for your loss. Claire was a beautiful soul. She will be missed and remembered fondly.