Claire E. Whittaker

July 5, 1951 - February 12, 2022

Claire Eileen (Smart) Whittaker of Logan Township, NJ passed away on February 12, 2022 after a long battle with liver disease. Only 70 years old, she was born in Hawaii before it was officially a state and moved around the country many times in her early years with her military parents. After attending Our Lady of Angels (now Neumann University) with her many friends, she met the love of her life, Bill, and they married in 1976. Claire dedicated her life to Catholic education, spending time in both the arch-diocese of Philadelphia and the Camden dioceses. She taught at Holy Spirt in Sharon Hill, PA, St. Michael’s in Gibbstown, NJ, and St. Joseph’s in Swedesboro, NJ before earning her Masters in Education at Rowan University and moving into school administration. She was the principal of St. James Grammar School in Penns Grove, NJ, and Bishop Guilfoyle Regional School in Carneys Point, NJ, and ended her 40 year career as Assistant Principal at St. Mary School in Williamstown. There was nothing she loved more than her students, and the children who needed the most help and guidance always found her. Her children always joked with her that they had thousands of siblings out there. She was the kind of woman who could never leave a grocery store without someone recognizing her and telling her how much she had helped their child. She believed in Catholic education more than anything and continued so support it until the day she died. Her retirement wasn’t particularly fun, filled with hospitals and illness, but she took it like a champ. If anyone were to list out all the things that had happened to her over the years, I don’t think most people would believe it, but her faith and her family carried her through. She loved camping with her husband and granddaughter, crafting wreaths for neighbors, making blankets for family, and watching Jason Statham movies. She loved the beach,and taking cruises with her husband and their friends. Laughing and staying up late were her favorites, and she always worried about everyone else. She was blessed with faithful college friends, and former co-workers, and her time with them was so important to her. Clarie was the Beloved wife of William J. Whittaker, Jr, who fought tirelessly at her side for 45 years. The mother of Erin Teresa Whittaker, her biggest advocate, and of Sean Joseph Whittaker, her angel on earth with the most patience. All of Swedesboro, NJ. She was blessed with a bonus daughter, Amber Arroyo of Waterford Works, and her granddaughter Skye Lynn was the light of her life. Claire was the sister of Kevin Smart (Mary) of Michigan, Karen Smart of Washington, John Smart of Colorado, Rita Marie Smart-Kubala (Gary) of Maryland and Suzanne Smart of California. Sister-in-law of Thomas Whittaker (Denise) of Deptford, Virginia Whittaker of Deptford, Virginia Price of Philadelphia and Eileen Flannigan of Florida. Claire had too many nieces and nephews to count, but she loved them all. She was pre-deceased by her brother Brian Smart, sister- in- law Ellen Smith, brothers-in-law James Whittaker, Francis Smith, and Edward Price. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a viewing Friday, February 18, 2022 from 6pm to 9pm in The Chapel at BOUCHER FUNERAL HOME, 1757 Delsea Dr., Deptford, NJ 08096. Family and friends will meet Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 11am at St. Clare of Assisi Parish at St. Joseph’s Church, 140 West Broad St., Swedesboro, NJ 08085 for a Mass of Christian Burial. THERE WILL BE NO VIEWING ON SATURDAY. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School, PO Box 89 Chamberlain, SD 57325 or CHILDFUND INTERNATIONAL 2821 EMERYWOOD PARKWAY, RICHMOND, VA 23294 For directions, to sign online guest book ant to view Claire's Video Tribute visit www.boucherfuneralhome.com.