Obituary of Ellen A. Claffey

NORWOOD—Funeral Services for 93 year old Ellen A. Claffey of 28 Park Street, Norwood, will be held Monday, May 15, 2017 at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew's Church with Rev. Msgr. John Murphy presiding. Burial will be held in the Calvary Cemetery immediately following the funeral. Friends may call at the Buck Funeral Home in Norwood on Monday before the service from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Claffey (as she was known to her "kids" and staff at Canton-Potsdam Hospital) passed away Friday morning (May 12, 2017) after a brief stay at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. She was blessed to be able to spend all of her 93 years in the family home on Park Street. Ellen is survived by her sister, Jane T. Claffey of Plattsburgh; her sister-in-law Ida Zappia Claffey of Massena; six nieces and nephews; Robert Claffey, Norfolk; Ann Claffey Vincent, Brunswick, Maine; Theresa Claffey Trimble, Maryland; Dr. Mary Pat Claffey Bow, Tennessee; Tim Claffey, New Jersey and Kevin Claffey, Texas and their spouses and children. Ellen was pre-deceased by her brothers Paul Claffey and Richard Claffey and her nephew Johnny Claffey. A daughter of Ligouri and Margaret Gorman Claffey, she was born in Ogdensburg, NY on March 20, 1924. She graduated from Norwood High School and the ABHH School of Nursing in Ogdensburg. She was well known as a Registered Nurse in the Norwood community, working for Dr. James Smith in his Norwood Office, as well as for many years the 3-11 Nursing Supervisor at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. She retired from CPH on April 1, 1986 to care for her mother in Norwood. Shortly after her retirement, she was the recipient of the CPH Board of Directors Service Award, presented annually in recognition of exceptional service to Canton Potsdam Hospital and the community. For many current and former employees of CPH, she maintains the title of "best boss ever"! She ran a tight ship, knew "everything" that was happening during her shift and supported and stood by "her kids" always. Many RNs attribute their success and love of the profession to her steadfast, consistent leadership and loyalty, as evidence by the attendance at her 90th Birthday Bash in 2014 by so many of those current and former Canton-Potsdam Hospital Employees. A lifetime communicant of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Norwood, some remember her "Catholic Daughters" meetings held at Dr. Smith's office for the female youth members of the church, and her attempts to teach knitting skills as well as spaghetti dinners at "Pete's". Within her Norwood Neighborhood, she maintained her home and lawns until just recent years, riding around on her lawn tractor mowing until her late 80's. The family home has also been the location of almost 60 years of the annual Claffey Family 4th of July picnic, enjoying good company and picnic foods and the Norwood Fireman's July 4th parade with the Claffey, Gorman, Whalen and Beckstead families. The Brockville Pipes and Drums of Brockville, Ontario provided a personal appearance and concert to that family gathering on July 4, 2015. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Foundation or to St. Andrew's Church in her memory. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.buckfuneralhome.com . The Buck Funeral Home in Norwood is serving the family of Ellen A. Claffey.