Published in the March 14, 2018 edition
Active in several Melrose community groups
MELROSE — Claire C. (Noren) Griffin, 89, a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away peacefully at Brooksby Village in Peabody on Thursday, March 8, 2018.
Claire was born in New York City on April 27, 1928, and was one of three daughters of the late Arthur T. Noren and Edith (Stiles) Noren. Claire graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Richmond, and received a certificate in business administration from Radcliffe College.
As a young woman, Claire settled in Melrose with her family. She became a member of the First Congregational Church, where she met her future husband Robert A. Griffin at the young adult group. For their first date, Claire and Bob went ice skating on Suntaug Lake in Lynnfield and were engaged six months later. On September 12, 1953, they were married at First Congregational Church and raised three children in Melrose.
A proud Melrose resident, Claire was active in the local community from a young age. She was past President of the Mothers’ Club, a member of Kappa Delta Psi, and volunteered at the Kappa Swap Shop. Claire worked several years as the secretary at the First Congregational Church and after her children had grown, served as office manager for Dr. Alper’s Dental Office in Melrose for 20 years. For many years, she also assisted at the family business, Monotype Composition Co. in Boston.
Claire was a deeply devoted wife to Bob, and a loving and supportive mother to her three children. She loved her home in Melrose, and always had an open door to family and friends. Hard working, she was always willing to assist in projects around the house with Bob. She enjoyed traveling, especially family vacations, and trips to the Lakes Region in New Hampshire. In her free time, she enjoyed taking rides with Bob up along the coast of Massachusetts or up to Lake Winnipesaukee. She also enjoyed a game of Scrabble. Most of all, Claire centered her life around her husband and three children.
Claire always led her life with a clear sense of right and wrong. Through her example, she showed her family how to live with integrity and have strong family values. Claire will be lovingly remembered for her pride and devotion to her husband, children, and grandchildren.
Claire was the beloved wife of the late Robert A. Griffin, with whom she shared 63 years of marriage. She was the devoted mother of Barbara G. Arsnow and her husband Edward of Lynnfield; David S. Griffin and his wife Chris of Marietta, Georgia; and Kenneth A. Griffin and his wife Elizabeth of Cranbury, New Jersey. She was the dear sister of the late Nancy A. Griffin, and Judith Nyren. She was the cherished grandmother of Christine Arsnow and her husband Matthew Roginski of New London, New Hampshire; Dan Arsnow and his fiancé Alison Keppler of Medford; Michael Arsnow of Lynnfield; Michael Griffin of New York City; Andrew Griffin of Marietta, Georgia.; Claire Griffin of Marietta, Georgia; Ken Griffin, Jr. of Cranbury, N.J,; and Katie Griffin of Cranbury, N.J. She was the loving great-grandmother of Ruth Clara Roginski.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather in honor and remembrance of Claire’s life for her funeral service at the First Congregational Church, 121 W. Foster St., Melrose, celebrated on Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m. Interment will take place in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. Donations in memory of Claire may be made to the First Congregational Church, 121 W. Foster St., Melrose MA 02176 or to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For directions and online tribute, visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
