Sue Ellen Clair

Sue Ellen Clair

September 20, 1945 - August 24, 2023

Sue Ellen (Chaims) Clair passed away on August 24, 2023, after a long battle with lung cancer. She was born on September 20, 1945, to Howard and Dorothy Chaims in the Bronx, NY.

Beloved wife of Alan Clair, they were married in June 1965 in Flushing, NY.  What followed were fifty-eight years of happy marriage, which began with five years of Air Force life in California and Texas. During this time, Sue completed a B.A. in History from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX, and their daughter Bonnie was born.

While Alan was away in Vietnam, Sue returned to New York lived with her folks, and began graduate work at Pace University. In 1970, Alan and Sue moved to Douglaston, New York where their son Stuart was born in 1972. A year later, they moved to New Fairfield, CT. Stuart died in 1978 and shortly after that Sue and Alan moved to Buffalo, NY. It was here that they were blessed with their son Marc.  

As a young girl, Sue always enjoyed cooking. After starting a cake decorating business in Connecticut that evolved into a catering business in Buffalo, and organizing and participating in a food co-op and multiple dining groups, Sue acquired an Associate degree in dietetics at Erie Community College in Williamsville, NY.  She subsequently worked managing commercial food operations for a number of years.

In 1988, Sue and Alan moved back to New Fairfield, where they settled permanently.  She soon became an employee of PepsiCo, where she worked in administration for 18 years in the International Marketing Group, retiring in 2016.

Sue was a lifelong knitter, a skill that she acquired from her grandmother.  She belonged to two knitting local groups.  She loved the community and creating things for others.

Sue is survived by her husband Alan, her children Bonnie (David Goerisch) and Marc (Diane), and grandchildren Denver and Ian.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the United Jewish Center Cemetery, 210 Gray's Bridge Road, Brookfield, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sue's honor to Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury, CT 06810

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