Claire McConnell

Claire J. McConnell, age 79 of Melrose, died Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the Pine Villa Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church in Melrose.

Claire Joan Gilbert was born November 27, 1933 in Brooten, Minnesota to Floyd and Beatrice (Nelson) Gilbert. She married Victor "Vic" McConnell on June 13, 1956 at St. Mary's Cathedral in St. Cloud, Minnesota. After graduating from college, Claire taught kindergarten and special education at the Melrose School District for 31 years, retiring in 1985.

Claire was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and the Teachers Retirement Association.

Survivors include her brother, Bill (Joann) Gilbert of Topsham, Maine; brothers-in-law, Jim McConnell of Pasco, WA and Bill (Barb) McConnell of St. Cloud; and 16 nieces and nephews.

Claire was preceded in death by her husband, Victor "Vic" McConnell on September 26, 2012; parents; brother-in-law, Al McConnell; sisters-in-law, Rita Hall and Marie McConnell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the McConnell Scholarship Fund at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud.

Arrangements were made by Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.