Obituary: Claire 'Elaine' Lawless, 87, Of Newton, Waltham

WALTHAM, MA — Claire 'Elaine' (Clements) Lawless, of Waltham, formerly of Newton, died Feb. 28 in Mount Auburn Hospital. She was 87.

Her family said she will be remembered as a "fiercely independent," feisty and strong woman. Her obituary at Joyce Funeral describes the mother of six and grandmother of 11 as having a kind heart that loved and accepted everyone.

Claire Elaine Clements was born Nov. 14, 1933 in Boston to the late Harry Wilbur Clements and Claire Veronica Clements.

She graduated from the Practical Arts High School in Roxbury in 1951, and five years later married Richard J. Lawless in Sacred Heart Church in Roslindale on April 28, 1956.

She lived in Newton when her husband died in 1975. Then, in 1993 she moved to Waltham.

Elaine had worked as an office manager in billing for The Future Now Corporation, but "Family was the fabric of Elaine's life," reads her obituary.

For information about calling hours on March 5 and her mass on March 6 read the full obituary from the Joyce Funeral Home.