Obituary of Claire Hanlon

Claire M Hanlon, 89, of Basking Ridge NJ passed away on Tuesday February 16, 2016 at her home In Basking Ridge NJ. A private family funeral service was held on Friday February 19, 2016. A Memorial gathering will be held at a later date, to be announced. For further information please contact Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home at 908-766-0250, or to light an online condolance candle please visit our website at www.gcfuneralhome.com Claire was born on July 27, 1926 in Newark NJ. She lived most of her life in Union and worked as a bookkeeper for Gallo Wine Sales in Elizabeth for 35 years. After retirement, she moved to Basking Ridge NJ where she has spent the last twenty years. In retirement, she continued to work part time at her son's CPA office. Claire was a devoted mother to her three children: Thomas Hanlon, James Hanlon of Basking Ridge NJ and Ellen Hanlon Stifel of Steinhausen Switzerland. Claire enjoyed being with her three children, seven grandchildren, and 7 great grant children. She loved to travel and was noted for visiting her daughter Ellen's family in Switzerland for three months each year for the last twenty years. Claire was also devoted Yankee, Giants and Jets fan. Claire loved family gatherings and barbeques and was always the focus of attention around the holidays. Survivors include: her sister Grace Summers of Ripon CA, her son James Hanlon of Basking Ridge NJ, her daughter Ellen Hanlon Stifel and her husband Peter Stifel of Steinhausen Switzerland and daughter in law Anna Hanlon of Somerset NJ; seven grandchildren: Vanessa and her husband Luca Negro, Mia Peluso and husband Salvatore Peluso of Steinhausen Switzerland, Pamela Hanlon Murphy and husband John Murphy of Lawrenceville NJ, Thomas Hanlon and his wife Suzanne of South Bound Brook NJ, Jaime Hanlon McPhillips and husband Brian McPhillips of Silver Spring MD, Kevin Hanlon of Mt Bethel PA, and Lindsey Hanlon Back and her husband Jeremy Back of Rutherford NJ. The seven great-grandchildren are: Jack Murphy, Alexandra Murphy, Meghan Hanlon, Samantha Hanlon, Lauren Peluso, Patrick McPhillips, & Collin McPhillips.