BCAT News

A woman who lived a life dedicated to her children, community and faith has passed away.

Claire Marie Putnicki, 81, of Burlington Massachusetts passed away peacefully on October 5, 2020 surrounded by her family, her obituary from Sullivan Funeral Home says. She is survived by her husband, Paul Putnicki, and her four children, Michael Putnicki of Monument, Colorado, Ann Johnson of Winchester, Massachusetts, Brian Putnicki of Phoenix, Arizona, and Amy Heymans, of Hampstead, New Hampshire, and ten grandchildren.

Claire was born and raised in Dorchester, Massachusetts by her wonderful mother, Catherine Riordan (deceased), and father, Paul Riordan (deceased), along with her brother, Dan Riordan, and her four sisters Paula Sweeney, Nancy O’Donnell, Jean Martel (deceased), and Catherine Swan.

“She was extremely kind and caring toward other people and this passion helped her to find her career in nursing,” her obituary reads. “When she was young, she was a member of the Junior Red Cross and then she went on to graduate from Catherine Laboure School of Nursing. She was a nurse for over 50 years, spending a good portion of her career at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts. Claire was also a teacher. She taught family education for the Archdiocese of Boston and she was a Master Teacher of religious education.”

According to her obituary, Claire met her lifelong love, Paul Joseph Putnicki, who adored her generous heart and beautiful green eyes, and they were married in a blizzard in 1961. During their marriage of almost 60 years, they were a very close, loving and active couple and did everything together.

Claire was also very active, involved in the community and very loved by her children.

“She was adored by all of them and they enjoyed spending time with her talking, camping, hiking, biking, baking, gardening, praying, exploring nature, or doing something fun,” her obituary reads. “She was very involved in her children’s activities and in the community of Burlington as well. She was a den mother for the Cub Scouts, involved with the Brownies and Girl Scouts, and she volunteered with her family for Meals on Wheels, Toys for Tots, Heartbeat Crisis Pregnancy Center, and local soup kitchens. She was an avid humanitarian and she served as the Director of Public Relations for the non-profit ‘An Orphan’s Dream’ for many years, helping to raise funds for the orphanage Oasis of Peace in Gachoka, Kenya.”

Finally, Claire was a woman of strong faith and was devoted to her church and its community.

“Her Catholic faith was a big part of her life and she and her husband Paul were very involved with their parish, St. Margaret’s Church in Burlington,” her obituary reads. “They were Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors. They taught CCD to twelfth graders, were organizers and team leaders for the Marriage Encounter program and the Engaged Couples program and organized the 40 Hour Eucharistic Adoration at Saint Margaret’s Church. She would attend mass daily and pray fervently for her loved ones as well as public officials. She was always evangelizing to anyone she would meet, talking about the love Jesus has for each of us and the importance of forgiveness. In fact her testimony was featured on the local BCAT show “Walk with Jesus”.