Obituary of Claire S. Henson

Claire S. Henson, 88, formerly of Manchester, died Friday, October 26, 2018 at Woodlake at Tolland.  Born in Hartford on September 23, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Domenick and Rena (Brignano) Sala. She was the oldest of the three “Sala Girls” raised in West Hartford. She retired in 1997 after a 25-year career at Manchester Community College.

Claire loved her family and friends above all and was happiest when in their presence. She was an excellent ballroom dancer and especially loved the music from the Big Band era.

She is survived by her daughters Kathleen Rook and her husband John of Ashford and Kim Sullivan and her husband Steve of Alpharetta, GA; her grandchildren Kevin Sullivan, Kelly Sullivan, and Jeannette Torres and her husband Greg; her great-grandchildren Kevin Costa Jr. and Vincente Torres; her great-great-granddaughter Elliana Torres; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sons: Thomas and Kevin as well as her sisters Lorraine Fournier and Jean Robinson.

Claire’s family would like to offer a special note of thanks to the staff at Woodlake at Tolland for the comfort and care given to Claire over the past five years.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, November 2^nd at 9:15 a.m. from the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St., Manchester with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Assumption, 29 Adams St. South, Manchester followed by burial in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.  Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, November 1^st from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  Education was very important to Claire. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in her name to the Thomas M. and Kevin J. Henson Memorial at The Manchester Scholarship Foundation, Inc., 20 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT. 06040 or http://www.manchesterscholarship.org. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.