Claudia Richards
Passed on: December 31st, 2016
We are sad to say that our mother Claudia Richards (nee Tracy) passed on December 31, 2016. Words are inadequate to say how important and influential she was to many people over her 76 years. With her long-standing commitment to healthy living, the past months have been a surprise. It is a reminder in her words to live each day to the fullest.
Claudia spent her younger years in Upham, NB and continued to feel the strong pull of her family roots throughout her life. As our family historian, she traced the family history to Ireland through many letters to distant relatives and treks to various plots. She actively documented and connected the links between generations and inspired us to carry on her hard work. Many picnics were enjoyed at the Porter homestead in Saddleback, NB. She attended Oulton’s Business College and worked at Eaton’s and Moore Business Forms. For over three decades, Claudia ran a successful sewing business with many repeat customers who looked forward to seeing her and sharing pleasant conversation at her sales. Claudia often remembered every face and had a smile for them all. Her natural artistic talent impressed us once again as she discovered her painting skills over the past fifteen years, still saying that she was learning though we all think they are masterpieces. Her gifts will be treasured.
Claudia married Lew Richards and raised Dwight, Natalie and Melissa in Moncton, NB. Always with many things on the go, she worked outside the home, raised her children, kept active in the community, was involved with family functions, and maintained a lovely home. She enjoyed projects around the home (of which there were many), gardening, photography, and road trips. She was keenly interested in the education of her children and was involved in Magnetic Hill Home and School for many years. As the family nest emptied, Claudia lived in Sussex where she was active in her painting group and sewing. Loving nature and gardening, she took pride in Communities in Bloom as well as the Sussex community garden.
Claudia’s favourite times were spent with family and close friends. If the outdoors could be incorporated, all the better. She had a way of making it a fun time wherever she was. Claudia’s family finds comfort in the belief that she is now in the company of her mother and loved relations, as well as her dear cat Betsy, enjoying a fiddle tune from Uncle George. Her memory will be honoured and treasured by her children, Dwight (Jan), Natalie (Sam) and Melissa (Eric), and her grandchildren, Jillian, Mackenzie, Logan, Myles and Brendan. She will be fondly remembered by her siblings, Jake (Linda), Anne and Rex (Ruth), and by her loving cousins, nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at Fergusons Funeral Home, 1657 Mountain Road, Moncton on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Celebration Ceremony to honour Claudia will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will be held in a private ceremony at Elmwood Cemetery in the spring. In memory of Claudia, donations to the I.W.K. Children’s Hospital would be appreciated. Online condolence at
www.fergusonsfuneralhome.com.
