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Claire Marie (Ryan) Bigelow, age 76, of Plainville, Massachusetts died peacefully at home on Thursday, December 18, 2025, following a courageous battle with cancer and surrounded by the love of close family.
Born in Boston, March 6, 1949, Claire was the 3rd of 9 children to John “Jack” Ryan and Isabel L Shea Ryan.
The large family travelled often, visiting various locations across the United States in their station wagon. Claire and her siblings grew up in Medway, Massachusetts and lived there with their dad, Jack, until leaving home to continue their own journeys.
Claire married Joseph P Bigelow (now Cape Coral, FL) in 1971 and lived for some time in Franklin, MA raising their family. Claire later moved with her girls to Woonsocket, RI, and eventually settled down in Plainville, MA, where she’s resided for the past 20 years – retiring from Citizens Bank in 2015 and Boston Financial in 2018.
Claire always spoke of wanting a big family and loved nothing more than to be surrounded by her 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren wherever possible.
A devoted Red Sox and Patriots fan her whole life; she also loved traveling to Cape Cod – her happy place – where she looked forward to putting her seat in a chair and her feet in the sand.
A longtime resident of Medway, Claire is survived by her family, Denise and Charles Pearson of Norfolk, MA; Melissa Gruhn of MI; Jennifer Reakes of Kingstown, RI; Maureen and Scott Thatcher of New Bedford, MA, and Christine and Chris Davis of Bellingham, MA; Grandchildren Stacey Coe, James Bigelow, Britteny Bigelow, Elizabeth Pearson, Joshua Davis, Ryan Reakes, and Hayden Davis; Great-grandchildren Kaylee, Jimi, Jack, Henry, Joey, Oliver, Ryder, and Jason.
She is also survived by her siblings, John Ryan and his wife Yvette of MN, Joanne Hall of Texas, David Ryan and his wife Donna of NH, Edward Ryan of NH, Jeff Ryan of NH, Nancy Ryan of MA, and Tom Ryan of MA.
She was preceded in death by her younger brother, Steven Ryan of MA.
The family extends sincere appreciation and respect to the providers and staff of Hope Health Hospice for the support, love and care over the past few months.
Memorial donations may be made in Claire's honor to The Jimmy Fund or to Hope Health Hospice .
Calling hours will be on Ginley Crowley Funeral Home, (ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 3 Barber St., Medway, on Monday, December 22, from 4 – 7 pm.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church, Medway, on Tuesday, December 23 , at 10:00a.m.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Medway.
