Claire Yvette (Kleissler) Havrilla Hughes

Loving Mother, Grandmother & Sister

Claire Kleissler Havrilla Hughes passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017 at Barnegat Nursing Home at the age of 68. By her side was her daughter, Sherri Lynn Havrilla and her niece, Emily Rose Indri.

Born in Newark and raised in Edison, Claire graduated from JP Stevens High School and married her High School Sweetheart, Clyde S. Havrilla. She and Clyde raised their 2 children, son, Clyde James Havrilla (Skipper) and daughter, Sherri Lynn Havrilla in Keansburg, NJ. She worked in many fields from School Bus Driver, to nearly 10 years at Dixie Lee Bakery and onto secretarial work.

She divorced at the age of 37 and sadly lost her son Skip during the same year. She and her daughter, Sherri, moved back to Claire's roots in Edison and the surrounding areas and she continued working various secretarial jobs.

She later met and married her second husband, Michael P. Hughes and resided with him in Somerset, NJ. She quickly adopted his family and friends as her own. They were married 17 years during which time she witnessed the birth of her only Grandchild, Samantha Elizabeth Grimaldi. Over the next 11 years she divorced and her focus was playing a crucial part in helping to raise her Granddaughter. She was present for all of "Baby's First" & all of the milestones and she so loved being "Grammy".

Claire possessed the rare quality of always putting others first. Always a mother figure to all making sure u took that umbrella, wore the coat, gloves and hat, fixed boo boo's, dried tears, healed hearts, set an example in compassion, gave the best hugs and ALWAYS, no matter what personal trials of her own, greeted u with a smile.  She even worked as a volunteer with the local animal shelter. Her loved ones coined her with the nickname "Mommy Claire".

Surviving are her Daughter, Sherri; Granddaughter, Samantha; Siblings, Joseph Kleissler, Michael Kleissler and Nancy Kleissler Indri, as well as her 5 nephews and nieces.

Visitation Friday April 28, 2017 at the Gosselin Funeral Home 660 New Dover Road, Edison NJ, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Funeral Mass Saturday April 29, 2017 9:30 AM at St Helena RC Church Edison. Inurnment to follow at  St Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia