As a good listener, compassionate with those caught in life’s struggles, she became a role model for the hundreds of students fortunate to know her.
Sister Clare Regan (Sister Grace Matthew) was born August 24, 1926, in Jersey City, New Jersey, one of four daughters and one son of Matthew and Grace Barklow Regan. Clare attended Sacred Heart Elementary School, Bronx, Cathedral High School, Manhattan, and worked for a few years before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on February 1, 1947. Sister Clare earned a BS in Education from Fordham University, an MTS in Mathematics from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, an MA in Religious Studies and an MA in Counseling Psychology, both from Manhattan College, the Bronx. She also earned New York State permanent certification in Guidance.
Sister Clare’s fifty years of ministry were in the field of education on the elementary, high school, and college levels. In her first ten years, she taught elementary education at Saint Raymond and Saint Gabriel in the Bronx. In the next thirteen years, she taught high school Math and Religion at York Catholic, York, Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph by-the-Sea, Staten Island, and Cathedral in Manhattan. For twenty-five years, Sister Clare was a Counselor and Director of Guidance at Saint Catharine Academy, the Bronx. She participated in a one-year career options program at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, before returning to high school counseling in the Guidance Department of Mount Saint Michael Academy, the Bronx. She was an Instructor for Math and Assistant Dean of Students for two years at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, the Bronx.
After retirement in 1999, Sister Clare found several areas in which to offer her gifts and talents in volunteer services. As her health needs increased, Sister Clare moved to the Convent of Mary the Queen in 2011 and, in 2015, was among the first Sisters of Charity of New York to form community at Schervier Nursing Care Center in the Bronx. It was here she died on Ascension Thursday, May 21, 2020.
Sister Clare was devoted to her three sisters and one brother and their children, participating in the celebrations and challenges that marked their lives. All who knew and loved Sister Clare remember her as quiet, adventurous, and able to find humor in life’s situations. She was grateful for friendships maintained over the years and enjoyed being hostess when visitors came by. As a good listener, compassionate with those caught in life’s struggles, she became a role model for the hundreds of students fortunate to know her.
We rejoice with her now as she enters the peace and joy of God’s kingdom and is reunited with family, friends, and all Sisters of Charity who have gone before her. Rest in peace, Sister Clare.
Date of Death
May 21, 2020
Age
93
Prayer Service and Memorial Mass at a later date
Burial
St. Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY
Missions
Archdiocese of New York
- St. Raymond, Bronx
1948–56, Teacher, Gr. 1, 7 - St. Gabriel, Bronx
1956–58, Teacher, Gr. 7 - St. Joseph by the Sea, Staten Island
1963–67, Teacher, Math, Religion - College of Mount Saint Vincent, Bronx
1967–69, Teacher, Math; Assist. Dean of Students - Cathedral HS, Manhattan
1969–73, Teacher, Math, Religion - St. Catharine Academy, Bronx
1973–89, Guidance Counselor
1989–91, Director of Guidance - Mt. St. Michael Academy, Bronx
1992–97, Guidance Counselor - Sacred Heart Convent, Yonkers
1999–2011, Volunteer
Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- York Catholic HS, York
1958–63, Teacher, Math
So sorry to hear of Sister Claire’s passing.
May God blessed her soul.That was a pleasure taking care of her at Schervier Nursing Care Center.she will be missed. I remembered her smile.
Thank you for all you did for my beloved Aunt.
Michael, your Aunt Clare did so much for the Sisters of Charity and all whom she served. She will forever live in the hearts of many. Please know that we hold you in prayer.
I have known Sr Clare most of my life, and I was thinking about her this morning and all of her wonderful qualities, when lo and behold this evening I read about her passing. I feel like she was saying goodbye..She was a person you could always count on to be truly interested in you and she always asked about family members by name. She brought you up to date on her family and what each one was doing.. She was religious , but always remained very human,,firm in her beliefs, cordial, gracious , joyous and ready to serve. Thank you, Sr Clare for being you and sharing yourself with us.
With love and respect I will miss you aunt Claire. You were so easy to talk to when I was struggling as a teanager. I will always be so grateful to you for that. You will be missed. Rest in peace. Love u.from Barbara Murphy
Barbara, your aunt was a gift to us and to hundreds of students and colleagues. We share your loss and hold you in prayer.
God rest you, Sr Clare, and give peace to your family.
Sister Claire was my mother’ s life long friend from high school. She was always cheerful and loving to me and my 3 brothers. We love her and will miss her until we see her again.