Frances J. (Prisby) LeClair

Frances J. (Prisby) LeClair, 92, formerly longtime of  County Road, Ipswich, died Monday January 26, 2009 in the Caldwell Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center following her brief  illness. She was the wife of the late Arnold L. LeClair who died in 1999.

Born in Ipswich March 5, 1916, one of nine children of the late Rudolph and Mary (Zagula) Prisby, she was raised in Ipswich where she attended public schools. As a young woman she was employed at a hoisery factory in Boston and for many years was employed as an accounts payable clerk at Sylvania in Ipswich. She was a member of the Sylvania Quarter Century Club and  a lifetime communicant of Sacred Heart Church and Our Lady of Hope Parish. She was also a member of the Catholic Woman’s Club.

She enjoyed square dancing with her husband and was an avid bowler, having won many trophies in the local leagues. In retirement, she and her husband spent their winters in Vero Beach, FL.

She is survived by two sons, Arnold F. LeClair  and his wife Victoria of Miami, FL and Richard A. LeClair and his wife Roberta of Ipswich; five grandchildren, Brian LeClair of Miami, FL,  Sean LeClair of New York City, Richard LeClair, Jr. of Ipswich, and Geraldine Smith and Mary LeClair, both of GA. She is also survived by  four brothers, Walter Prisby, John Prisby and Ignatius Prisby all of Ipswich and Frank Prisby of Amesbury; three sisters, Valeria Carosella of Roslindale, and Katherine Zabelski and Betty Eliopoulos both of Ipswich and many nephews and nieces. She was the sister of the late Anne Strungis, formerly of NC.

Her funeral will be held Friday January 30, 2009 at 8 am from the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich, followed by the celebration of a Funeral Mass at 9 am in Our Lady of Hope Church, Linebrook Road, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Interment will be in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. Visiting hours are Thursday 4 to 8 pm.  In lieu of flowers,  memorial contributions in her name may be made to  the Friends of Caldwell,                      16 Green Street, Ipswich, MA 01938.