Claire C. Van Fleet, 86, of Milford, CT, beloved wife of the late Vern C. Van Fleet Jr., entered into eternal rest on March 17, 2017. Claire was born September 14, 1930 in Pequannock Township, NJ to the late Richard and Clara Bruining.

Claire was raised in Packanack Lake, NJ and enjoyed swimming and ice skating with her family at the lake. Claire and Vern raised their five sons in Milford. She loved taking walks around Milford, playing racquetball with her husband, sitting in her gardens surrounded by plants and animals, and playing checkers. Lately, Claire enjoyed rides along the beach with her son and caregiver, Scott. She was an openhearted and caring woman who taught her children and grandchildren to look for the good in people and treat everyone with kindness and respect.

Claire is survived by her sons, Vern and his wife Cynthia, Richard and his wife Patricia, Jeffrey, Jonathan and Scott. She is also survived by her fifteen grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and siblings, Betty Sisti, Maryann Smallwood, Trudy Kreskiher, sister-in-law, Gloria Van Fleet, and many nieces and nephews. Claire was predeceased by her brothers, John and Henry Bruining.

A Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 2:45 p.m. at All Saints Cemetery, 700 Middletown Ave, North Haven, CT 06473. Please meet directly at the cemetery. The family is being compassionately cared for by the CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 107 Broad St., Milford, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations in Claire’s memory may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 20 Batterson Park Road, Farmington, CT 06032.