Retired sociology professor

Published in the September 14, 2017 edition

WALTHAM — Mrs. Claire A. (Larracey) Lang, 76, of Waltham, formerly of Quincy, passed away peacefully after a short but courageous and brave battle with metastatic breast cancer on Sunday August 13, 2017.

Claire was born in Boston on November 13, 1940, a daughter of the late Bernard and Florence (Breen) Larracey. She graduated from Emmanuel College in 1963 and then served as a member of the Sociology Department from 1965 until 2007. In 1975, she as awarded a Doctor of Philosophy Sociology degree from Brandeis University. When she retired from Emmanuel College in 2007 she was honored with the title Professor Emeritus of Sociology, and was fondly remembered by her colleagues and students.

On January 15, 1966, Claire married Thomas P. Lang in Quincy. They enjoyed many happy years together until his passing on December 13, 2014. Claire had a passion for teaching, politics, current world events, and traveling to Long Island and Chatham with her husband. She was a loving grandmother who always shared her knowledge, wisdom, and compassion which came so naturally to her.

She was the devoted mother to her son, Daniel B. Lang and his fiancée, Maria Griggs, of Burlington and her daughter, Lucy Lang and husband Byron Lowe of North Reading. She was also devoted to her two grandchildren, Olivia C. Lowe and Aiden Thomas Lowe, and her brother, Richard Larracey.

Memorial donations may be made to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Vernon Cancer Center, 2014 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02462.

Funeral services are private.

To offer online condolences, please visit www.JoyceFuneralHome.com