LYNN — Claire J. (Crighton) Dunnigan, age 93, of Lynn, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 31, 2017, at the Abbott House while surrounded by her loving family.
Claire was the eighth child born to the late Walter J. and Mary C. (O’Callaghan) Crighton and resided in the city of Lynn most of her life. She was a graduate of the Sacred Heart Elementary School and St. Mary’s High School.
Claire quickly learned to fend for herself at the age of 18 when her father died at a young age. She and her mother, who had come over from Ireland at the age of 16, ran the house together and supported the seven siblings. Her three sisters, Mary, Ann and Laurie, went off to work at GE while her four brothers, Wally, Danny, Johnny and Brendy, all fought in World War II. Claire kept everyone strong as news poured in about Wally’s ship being torpedoed and Brendy being wounded and MIA for several months. All four boys made it home safe and the Crightons remained extremely close.
Claire married the love of her life, George J. “Tona” Dunnigan, a Naval chief warrant officer and Pearl Harbor survivor who was also born and raised in West Lynn. They traveled the world together and were stationed at many ports of call during his U.S. Naval career. The two eventually took over the Crighton homestead on Temple Place in West Lynn and began to raise a family of their own.
Once their seventh child was born on Temple Place, Claire and Tona decided they needed more room and purchased a bigger home near Flax Pond in East Lynn. Claire and her family settled in nicely on Carter Road as she and her husband added an eighth child to the mix. Claire established many fond memories and lifelong friendships with the other families on Carter Road.
Claire’s home was always open to anyone who stopped by to visit. She loved to cook big meals, she loved parades, loved to walk, she loved to dance, adored her grandchildren and she loved to make people happy. Claire never complained, was always optimistic and had an unconditional love for everyone she met.
In addition to raising her eight children, Claire worked several years as a lunch monitor in the Lynn School Department and took on several jobs as a baby-sitter. She put all of her earnings back into the family and was able to help several of her children attend college.
Claire was predeceased by her husband George J. “Tona” Dunnigan, with whom she shared 50 years of marriage and two of her daughters, Joyce C. Petrucelli and Patricia L. Dunnigan.
She is survived by her six children, George J. Dunnigan and his wife Lorene of Salem, Garry J. Dunnigan and his wife Patricia of Lynn, Gregory J. Dunnigan and his wife Cathy of Salem, Glenn J. Dunnigan and his wife Elizabeth of Lynn, Barbara J. Ruggiero and her husband Richard of Nashua, N.H., and Gail M. Rowe and her husband Don of Marblehead. Claire is also survived by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and extended family.
Claire will finally be reunited with her four brothers, Walter, John, Daniel and Brendan Crighton and her three sisters, Mary Hingston, Ann Kennedy and Laurie Desrosier.
The Dunnigan Family would like to extend a special thanks to the entire staff of the Abbott House for their endless love, compassion and support of Claire during her time there. The Abbott House staff exemplifies the true meaning of kindness in this world.
Service information: A funeral will be held on Monday, April 10, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. from the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Route 129), Lynn, followed by a funeral Mass in St. Pius V Church, Lynn, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Claire’s memory may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1 Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114 or at www.mass.wish.org.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Directions and online guestbook at Solimine.com.