Claire E. (Doherty) Hayes, 81, of Paxton, passed away peacefully on March 4th after a short illness. She was born on November 5, 1930 in Worcester at St. Vincent Hospital. Her parents were Cornelius Christopher and Anna Florence (McGrath) Doherty. She moved to Paxton in 1966.
Claire is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Albert Hayes. They together had three children: a daughter Anne Marie (Hayes) Bularzik and son-in-law John Bularzik of Andover MA; a son Robert F. Hayes and Mona Trifilo of Paxton MA; and was predeceased by a daughter Kathleen M. Hayes in 1969, and a sister Mary Johnson and two brothers John and Joseph Doherty. Claire had four grandchildren: Jason M. Hayes, Jennifer R. Hayes, Matthew J. Bularzik and Kara M. Bularzik and three great grandchildren: Saffron G. Hayes, Shiraz C. Hayes, and Olivia M. Bularzik. She also leaves behind Jaime R. Trifilo and Jordyn L. Trifilo.
     Claire attended Worcester public schools and graduated from Classical High School in 1948. She then graduated from Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. She completed a BA in Education in 1972 and a Master of Arts in 1975 from Assumption College. In 1982, she obtained a BS in Nursing from Worcester State College and then a Master’s degree in Nursing from Anna Maria College in 1984, all while working full time as faculty member at Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing. She also completed a 45 hour Teacher Training Course in Vocational Education at Fitchburg State College.
     Claire was employed by Worcester City Hospital (WCH) for over 40 years. She held staff nurse and supervisory positions until 1972 when she started teaching at the WCH School of Nursing (SON). She taught Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing and Leadership until 1986 when she became Assistant Director of the SON in 1986. In 1991, she became the Director and was instrumental in raising the monies that were needed for the last class, the Class of 1992, to complete their nursing program. She closed the school in August of 1992. She also taught part-time at the Commonwealth Center for Practical Nurse Education in Boylston instrumental in raising monies for the last class of 1992 to complete their studies.
     She was a member of the Saint Columba Parish and served on the Parish Council. She was a member of the VW Club of Central New England and the Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing Alumni of which she is a past president and treasurer. She was also a member of Sigma Theta Tau -National Honor Society. She was on the alumni associations of Assumption, Worcester State and Anna Maria Colleges.
     Claire had a full and rewarding life. Her proudest achievements were her children and the joys that they and her grandchildren brought her. She loved working in her chosen profession of nursing and teaching. Following retirement in 1992 she and her husband traveled extensively around the world. Also cherished were the 32 years she spent vacationing in Moody, Maine with family and friends at their summer home.
     Calling hours will be held Thursday, March 8th, from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M. in O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester. Her funeral will be held Friday, March 9th from the funeral home with a Mass at 10:00 A.M. in St. Columba Church, 18 Richards Avenue. Interment will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alumni Association of WCH School of Nursing, P.O. Box 20369, Worcester, MA 01602.