Claire Louise Snow Gucciardi was born April 3, 1946, at Mary Alley Hospital in Marblehead, Mass. She was the second born of a set of twins. Her father was the late Nathaniel H. Snow Jr., and her mother was the late Doris E. Briggs Snow of Marblehead, Mass.
She passed away on Tuesday 26, November 2024, at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville, N.C., after a lengthy illness. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by her loving family. She is now at peace after a long illness.
Claire grew up on a family farm in the small town of Byfield, Mass. She was one of four children raised in a two-bedroom homestead. Growing up on the farm was where she began her love and passion for reading books. She graduated from Newburyport High School, Class of 1964 in Newburyport, Mass. After high school, she lived in Marblehead, Mass., until graduation in 1966, with a secretarial certificate from Burdett College of Business and Shorthand, in Lynn, Mass. She then lived with her brother, Nathaniel, and sister-in-law, Eva, for the duration.
A blind date and a hot toddy became the origin of the love story for Claire and Sal. They married on July 16, 1967, and their parents counted the days due to the fact that they wed nine months after the first date. A little less than two years later, she gave birth to an overdue set of female twins. The love story ended when the Salvatore Gucciardi died on February 24, 1984. Claire ultimately chose widowhood until her passing.
She raised her twin daughters, a nephew, and set of twin nieces in Merrimac, Mass. During that period, on Lake Attitash, she was known as Mrs. G., the neighborhood mother. Her home was an open invitation for gatherings and get-togethers for family and friends alike. Many extended family and friends spent time at her family’s home when needing a place to stay. A heart so big, compassionate and a reputation of being fair beyond belief, she was a standard to all of those who knew her. Let it be known; Claire knew how to take a breather. So, when the case would arise; and it inevitably would, and she did need a break. The words “I need 15 minutes” came into play. The woman knew to put herself in a timeout, usually a time for a cup of tea and the current novel of the day. To that she also had many books in different chapters on any given day. Later in life, Claire began taking one or two courses per semester at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, until she obtained her A.A. degree in Liberal Arts. She retired from AGFA/Fuji/Compugraphic after working there for over 20 years. In addition, she held multiple positions in several different industries. One of her passion projects was owning her own clothing business and becoming a master seamstress. Moreover, she was an admin assistant for an all-female moving company out of Marblehead, Mass. Books and words were her passion. In addition, she had many hobbies, consisting of quilting, knitting, and crocheting. Doodling on paper and cloud watching were things she shared with her grandchildren, as well as teaching and playing card games like rummy with her family. She also had a love for watercolor painting and stained-glass projects. Before entirely retiring to the South, she sold her home on the lake and downsized to a mobile home park in Seabrook, N.H. Her final residence was in Statesville, N.C., to retire and watch the next generations of her family grow up. She relished all her family and friends. As a senior, she went back to college for the arts. Watercolor, stained glass, and glass slumping were just some of the continuing education classes she took. The senior center in Statesville was an additional gathering place for Claire and her sister Pauline to take watercolor classes together. Over the years she developed many life-long friendships, and they were part of her lifeline. They were the reason she traveled, laughed, loved and enjoyed life. If there was a gathering of family and/or friends, she was on the bandwagon.
Here are two stories that became the fabric weaved into her lifeline. First, she loved to celebrate events and parties. Her only real rules at her house were personal judgment on others, as for religion and politics, were left at the front doorstep. Now, those subjects were discussed, and she allowed freedom of expression within limits. This explained the swear jar in the rearing of teenagers. Secondly, one undisclosed year, she went to a costume party at a local restaurant and was refused service, not due to age but because she was dressed in the full regalia of a Catholic Nun, habit and all. She needed another party attendant to buy the drinks from the bar, due to the bartender feeling the right to refuse a nun a cocktail.
She is survived by her children, twin daughters, Diona Gucciardi LaPointe and Michele Gucciardi-Beverly, both of Statesville, N.C. Additionally, she helped raise her nephew and twin nieces, Paul D. Snow of Statesville, and the twins, Charity A. Eastman and partner Ric Williams of Wilkesboro, N.C., and Hope D Eastman of New Hampshire. She has two grandchildren, Joshua C. Beverly and wife Jessica N. Beverly, and Zoe E. Beverly of Statesville; and two great-grandchildren, Zaylee C. Beverly and Harrison G. Beverly, with another on the way in May 2025. She is also survived by her sister, Pauline E. Snow Perreault and husband Jon Perreault of Statesville; and sister-in-law, Eva McIntosh Snow of Massachusetts; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grand nieces, great-grand nephews, and numerous cousins. Special life-long friends the late Gail Miller, Darlyne Antos, Andrea Porter, and her cousin Arlene Willard also survive. She had a wide circle of friends, neighbors, and acquaintances, all of whom gave quality to her life.
Claire was preceded in death by her husband, Salvatore S. Gucciardi; in-laws, Gaspare Gucciardi and Madeline R. Yemma Gucciardi; her brother, Nathaniel H. Snow III; her twin sister, Donna J. Snow Eastman; her brothers-in-law, Frank Gucciardi and Edward Bednez Sr.; and aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.
In conclusion, Claire chose not to have a formal funeral; yet, she did want an informal wake of family and friends in New England, which is still in the planning stages.
In lieu of flowers, she asked for donations or contributions of time to local food banks and Senior Centers in your community.
Special thanks to the staff at Iredell Memorial Hospital for taking such good care of our mom.
May Claire L. (Snow) Gucciardi, the mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, may be at peace. She will also hold a piece of herself in all our hearts that love her. Rest in Peace.
Nicholson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.