Obituary of Claire Colby Simmons

Claire Colby Simmons

Born: March 22, 1925 – Died: March 10, 2022

Claire Colby (McCreery) Simmons of Stamford, CT died on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at the age of 96. Prior to moving to Stamford in 2014, she had lived in the Town of Greenwich for more than 60 years. She was born and raised in Fall River, MA, where she graduated from BMC Durfee High School. She earned an Associate in Science degree from Lasell Junior College and a Bachelors in Commercial Science degree from Boston University.

Claire held administrative and secretarial positions at American Policy Holders, BMC Durfee Bank, Reader’s Digest, and Cash Flow Inc. She was a preschool teacher at the Stamford YWCA Nursery School and Child Care Center for 10 years.  She did volunteer work with the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, taught Sunday School at the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich, volunteered at Greenwich Hospital, and worked at American Red Cross blood banks.  She was a member of Putnam Hill Cottage (where she was a docent), the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Junior League of Greenwich, and the Old Greenwich Yacht Club. She enjoyed playing bridge, knitting, flower arranging, traveling with her husband, and spending time with family.  To her many friends, Claire was always upbeat, fun-loving, and brave in the face of adversity.

She was the daughter of the late Dr. Clarence Charles McCreery and Bessie Franklin (Brownell) McCreery. Her husband, Edward Taber Simmons, and her two sisters, Barbara Franklin McCreery and Janice (McCreery) Kispert, predeceased her. She is survived by her three children: Douglas Edward Simmons and his wife Debra of Clinton, MA; Diane Colby Wolchik and her husband Lawrence of Randolph, NJ; and Elizabeth (Lisa) Claire Hanna and her husband Mark of Lakeville, MN; 7 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Claire’s life will be held in the summer, at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, a donation in memory of Claire may be made to the American Red Cross (online at redcross.org or by mail to American Red Cross, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839). Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home 104 Myrtle Ave Stamford, Ct (203)-359-9999 To leave an online condolence, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com.