Helen “Claire” Soares of Buzzards Bay died April 16, 2022 after a brief illness. She was the youngest of three daughters of the late Richard and Marion (Kelty) Duggan. She was predeceased by her sister Judy Arthur. Claire is survived by her husband, Albert “Mickey” Soares of Buzzards Bay, her sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Bob Conlin of Milton, brother-in-law Robert Arthur, sister-in-law Celeste Hamilton and many loving nieces and nephews.

Claire graduated from Milton High School in 1959. She and Mickey married in 1974, and they set up home in a lovely little cape across from Gray’s Beach in Kingston, where they lived until moving to Buzzards Bay in early 2022.

She was a well-known figure in Kingston and in the neighboring town of Plymouth, where she spent her career working in Town Hall. She began work for the town as a novice computer user. She liked to joke she knew how to find the power button when she started, and that was about it. Never one to let an obstacle get in her way, Claire taught herself to become a skilled computer user and eventually worked her way up to the position of Data Processing Manager for the town before retiring.

She was active in many volunteer roles for the town of Kingston, including serving on the Finance Committee and as a town meeting member for many years. Claire loved being close to the heartbeat of the town, and was deeply appreciative of her fellow residents and her small part in the theater of life that plays out in a small community.

Anyone who met her knew Claire had a wicked sense of humor and a quick and easy laugh. At the same time, she didn’t suffer fools gladly, which made for a blisteringly funny combination. She wasn’t fond of people perched high on pedestals and she often let them know. Claire could topple empires with her biting observations!

Drawing on her mother’s genes as a painter, Claire loved making and sending beautiful cards for any occasion to her friends and family. She surrounded herself with bright colors, relished digging in her garden, going out on their small boat with Mickey, and savoring the salt air in the seaside town she called home.

She and Mickey loved having their nieces for sleepovers at their home on Gray’s Beach. There, they were treated like royalty, and could always count on a trip to Edaville Railroad, a shopping excursion to the Christmas Tree Shops, and even their own personal pan pizza at Papa Gino’s!

Claire will be deeply missed and never forgotten by her husband Mickey, sister Jean, brother-in-law Bob, nieces Lisa Lashaway, Laura Poulin, Julie Conlin, Mary Jane Walker, Dina Conlin, nephews Tom Arthur, James Arthur, David Arthur, Bobby Conlin, Richard Conlin and all of her extended family.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, April 25, 2022, in St. Mary of the Hills Church, 29 St. Mary’s Rd., Milton, at 10 o’ clock. Visiting Hours in the Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON SQUARE, Sunday April 24, 2022, 2-5 pm. Interment Vine Hills Cemetery, Plymouth.