Claire P. Rowley, 95

ADAMS, Mass. —

Mrs. Claire (Poirier) Rowley, 95, of Adams, died Wednesday evening, May 24, 2023 at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield with her family by her side.

She was born in Adams on December 22, 1927, a daughter of the late Archie and Florence (Molleur) Poirier. She attended the Mary Burnham School for Girls in Northampton and the Maryland College for Women in Towson, MD.

Claire was the co-founder with her late husband, James L. Rowley, of Rowley Fuel Co. in Adams, which they established in 1951.

She was a communicant of St. John Paul II Parish in Adams where she was a member of its Choir for many years. She was a member and former Vice Chairman of the Adams Democratic Town Committee and a past member of the Massachusetts State Democratic Committee.

Her husband, whom she married on July 10, 1948, died on July 23, 1996.

In recent days, it’s been remarked that Claire Rowley didn’t have a bad word to say about anybody. She loved deeply and was deeply loved by all who were fortunate enough to know her well. She was the kind matriarch of an extensive family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, yet always had the time and inclination to welcome the love and attention of her nieces and nephews and their children, and there are many! In her later years, Claire’s memory of events and specifics failed her, but she never failed to express her delightful and charming sense of humor and her appreciation for the love and care that surrounded her.

She is survived by her six children, Catherine R. Capizzi and her husband Michael of Concord, MA; Virginia R. Lamb and her husband Jerry of Dalton; Timothy F. Rowley and his wife Laura of Adams; James Mickey Rowley and his partner David of Philadelphia, PA; Suzanne R. Viani and her husband Michael of Concord, NH; and Carrie R. Kelly and her husband Jack of Wakefield, MA; fourteen grandchildren, including Jessica Capizzi and her husband Andy Ravalico, Carrie Barnes and her husband Phin, Katrina Capizzi and her husband Max Hanna, Michael Capizzi and his wife Amanda, Jeremy Lamb and his wife Danielle, Ryan Lamb, Brittany Lamb and her partner Jarrod, Erin Rowley and her husband Jeff Dalzell, Eric Viani, Julia Breen and her husband Patrick, Dr. Emily Viani, Sean Kelly and his wife Katie, Caroline Kelly Smith and her husband Steven and Conor Kelly and his wife Jamie; a step granddaughter Tiffany Ferriouolo; sixteen great grandchildren, including Luca Ravalico, Alessia Ravalico, Sienna Ravalico, Margaret Barnes, John Hanna, Catherine Capizzi, Rylynn Lamb, Brayden Lamb, Tyler Lamb, Leo Dalzell, Oscar Dalzell, William Breen, Jack Kelly, Claire Kelly, Vivienne Smith and Harper James Kelly; as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Henry Poirier, and by her two sisters, Virginia Poirier Harvey and Alice Poirier Shea.

Claire’s children are truly grateful for the compassionate care that Bernadette Kozik, Lisa Dix and Helina Anim provided for their mother in her final years, and for the exceptional care and support that the staff of Berkshire Medical Center provided in her final days.

The funeral will be held on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7th, 2023, at 11:30 AM from the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 12 Noon in Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Church, Adams. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are TUESDAY, JUNE 6th from 4 to 7 PM, and again on Wednesday, June 7th from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM, in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Rowley Scholarship Fund (at Hoosac Valley High School), PO Box 184, Adams, MA 01220. To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com

For more on the life of Claire Rowley, visit www.ClaireRowley.com