Obituary of Claire M. (Scanlon) Bird

Claire M. (Scanlon) Bird PEABODY—Claire M. (Scanlon) Bird, 88, beloved wife of the late John R. Bird, Sr., died peacefully on Saturday evening at the Sunrise at Gardner Park in Peabody. Born in Lawrence, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Yvonne (Frechette) Scanlon. She grew up in Lawrence and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Lawrence. She then graduated from the Salem Hospital School of Nursing. Mrs. Bird was a Registered Nurse for a 40 year career. She worked at Salem Hospital, and later worked with the Salem and Peabody Visiting Nurse Association. When retired, she delivered meals with Meals on Wheels in Peabody. Claire was active with the Council on Aging in Peabody, the Salem Hospital School of Nursing Alumni, playing Bridge, and spending time with her husband and family in retirement at their place “Sky Ranch” in New Hampshire. She also was active in St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Peabody. She is survived by her children, Kathleen O’Donnell & her husband Charles of Salem, Cynthia Anderson & her husband Ken of Wellesley, John Bird, Jr. & his wife Sharon of Georgetown, Christine Murtagh & her husband John of Rowley, and Maureen Bird & her husband Richard Forster of Holliston; 13 grandchildren, Christine, Julie & Patrick; Emily, David & Peter; Kevin & Leanne; Brian, Christopher & Timothy; and Tyler & Daniel; a great-grandson Parker; her siblings Frances Powers of Merrimac, MA, Rita Belair of Methuen, Raymond Scanlon of Haverhill, Richard Scanlon of Tamworth, NH, Kathleen Knightly of Lawrence, and Lucille Bourque of Haverhill, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death, besides her husband and parents, by a brother Philip Scanlon. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather on Thursday at 8:30 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:30 AM in St. Thomas Apostle Church in Peabody. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4:30 – 7:30 P.M. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Expressions of sympathy may be made in honor of her nephew, in memory of Gerard Jacobs, Billerica Scholarship Foundation, c/o Town of Billerica Treasurer's Office, 365 Boston Road, Billerica,Ma 01821.