Clare B. Keefe

(1922-2009) - Clare B. (Bissinger) Keefe, 87, formerly of Burleigh Road Wilbraham died Wednesday November 4, 2009 at Wingate of Wilbraham.

Clare, the daughter of the late Theodore and Estelle (Miller) Bissinger was born in New York City, NY. Raised in New York she graduated from the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York City. Clare and her husband Charles owned and operated the Charles Keefe Advertising in Wilbraham since 1957. In May of 2000 Clare began working as an Architectural Illustrator. Clare was a resident of Wilbraham for 45 years and for the past three years has resided in Springfield. A communicant of St. Cecilia’s Church, Clare served for the church as secretary on the Long Range Planning Committee, the Development and Building Committee. She was a member and served on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Springfield. Clare also served on the Board of Directors at the Y.W.C.A. of Western Mass. She was a past President of the Women’s Division of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors for the Ludlow Chamber of Commerce. She was a member and corporator for Mercy Hospital, a member of the Springfield Infant Mortality and Teen Pregnancy Coalition, and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce serving on the Legislative Steering Committee.

In addition to her parents Clare was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Charles A. Keefe who died October 20, 1995. She is survived by a son, Dennis C. Keefe and his wife Jill of Wilbraham; a daughter, Clare Ann Keefe of Belchertown; five grandchildren, Jessica, Caroline, Laura, Christopher, and Geoffrey and four great grandchildren.

Visiting hours for Clare will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2009, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Sampson’s Chapel of the Acres Funeral Home, 21 Tinkham Road, Springfield. Her funeral will be held on Friday morning, November 6, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Cecilia’s Church, 42 Main Street, Wilbraham. Rites of Committal and Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 421 Tinkham Road, Springfield. Memorial contributions in Clare’s memory may be made to the Y.W.C.A. of Western Mass. 1 Clough Street, Springfield, MA 01118.