SALEM – Mrs. Claire F. (Higgins) Cruddas, wife of the late Raymond H. Cruddas, Sr. of Salem, slipped away quietly late Monday afternoon, December 30th, 2024. She was surrounded by family as she departed for the next part of her journey.

She was a loving mother, grammy, sister, aunt, and friend to many. She is survived by her two children, Raymond. Cruddas Jr. and his wife, Elaine (O'Keefe) and Ann Norah Roy and her husband, Jason. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, James Baribeau, Andrew Cruddas, Brianna Espinoza, Timothy Hill, Jr., and her great-grandchildren, Zarin Baribeau, Liam, Isaiah and Annelise Espinoza and Cameron Hill as well as her dear sister, Agnes Kilduff, and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends.

She was preceded in death by her brother, James F. Higgins and her sisters. Kathleen Cassista, Mary Wegner, Ann Malone, Patricia Guess.

Born at home November 6th, 1941 she was the much-loved youngest daughter of the late Norah and James F. Higgins. She was raised in Peabody and graduated from St. John's High School in Peabody class of 1960.

As a young girl, she worked in the Five and Dime in Peabody, and after she raised her children she worked as a teacher's aide at Collins Middle School in Salem - where, as a not so tough hall monitor – she was always giving out candy to all the kids she should have been moving along back to their classrooms! She was loved by all and has always been fondly remembered by many former students.

After the passing of her husband in 1984, she traveled to Ireland and Florida and to her sister Patsy's home in Texas. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren more than anything and she loved to laugh, long and hard. She was known as a prankster and jester at many family gatherings making sure everyone had a great time. She will be deeply missed.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery, North St., Salem, Thursday, January 9th at 11 am. A Celebration of Claire's wonderful life will be held at Supino's Restaurant, 250 Newbury St, Danvers, Mass, on Friday, January 10th, 2025 at 1 pm sharp. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O'Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 84 Washington Square, (at Salem Common) SALEM. In lieu of flowers, a donation to her favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN, 38105 would honor her memory. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/