Barbara Claire
("Claire") Zaragoza, 85
CAMDEN-WYOMING, DE - Barbara Claire ("Claire") Zaragoza passed away, Sunday, February 19th, 2023, at her home with all of her children by her side.
Claire was born August 17th, 1937, in Torrington, Connecticut, to James Merati and Eva Frauenhofer Merati. She attended St. Francis School in Torrington and graduated from Torrington High School in 1955. Following high school, she pursued her love of biology and attended St. Mary's School of Nursing in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Claire obtained her nursing degree in 1958 and began working as an OR nurse at Jersey City Medical Center. During this time, she met and married her husband, Rafael ("Ralph") Zaragoza, who was completing his residency. After they married, the couple moved to New York City where Ralph completed a fellowship at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Their oldest son, Michael, was born in New York. Thereafter, Claire and Ralph moved to Dover, Delaware, where Ralph established his urology practice and they raised their family. They had three more children born in Dover: daughters Sandy and Nancy, and son Robert (Bob).
Before devoting herself to raising her children fulltime, Claire worked in Ralph's practice as well as at Kent General Hospital. She also worked at the Baptist hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, where the family lived briefly while Ralph served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
Claire was an active participant in Dover's civic life, most notably for causes supporting breast cancer survivors and raising breast cancer awareness. A breast cancer survivor herself, Claire served as a board member of the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. She also volunteered for Reach to Recovery, receiving the Theresa Hasser Award for Contribution to Breast Cancer.
Claire also donated her time to a variety of other community organizations, including Read Aloud Delaware, the Junior Board at Kent General Hospital, and the Ladies Auxiliary of Kent General Medical Society. Additionally, she served on the Delaware foster care review board and was a member of Holy Cross Church. She also put her nursing skills to work volunteering as a school nurse at Holy Cross Elementary School and accompanying Ralph on medical missions to the Philippines.
Claire loved socializing with her friends and had a variety of interests. She played bridge regularly and attended and hosted countless birthday lunches for her cherished friends. An avid reader, Claire devoured books in her spare time and met regularly with her book club. Additionally, she was a member of the Pot Pourri Garden Club and NIT Investment club.
Claire and her husband loved traveling, visiting most of Europe and several countries in Asia. They both enjoyed playing tennis and golf over the years as members of Maple Dale and Wild Quail country clubs, where they developed many close friendships.
Claire's family was her center. Her children were very special to her and she said they were her legacy. She was always proud of her children and their accomplishments. She was named Delaware Mother of the Year in 1991.
Claire was preceded in death by Ralph, her husband of 61 years; and her brothers, Richard, Michael, and James Merati.
Claire is survived by her sister, Catherine Panicci; and brother, Anthony Merati (wife Pat); her children, Michael Zaragoza (wife Sandy Zaragoza), Sandy Zaragoza (wife Meave O'Marah), Nancy Zaragoza (partner Hugh West), and Bob Zalewski-Zaragoza (wife Barbara Zalewski-Zaragoza); her grandchildren, Brian and Justin Zaragoza, Eva and Genevieve O'Marah, Alex and Catalina Fogg, and Nadia, Sofia and Naomi Zaragoza; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made to the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.
A visitation will be held from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 8:00pm Thursday, March 2nd, 2023, at Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover, Delaware. Prayer vigil will begin at 7:00pm.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held the following morning, 10:00am, Friday, March 3rd, 2023, at the Church of Holy Cross, 631 S. State Street, Dover, Delaware. Interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery.
For those unable to attend the funeral service there will be a livestream on www.torbertfuneral.com. It can be found under the "Upcoming Livestreams" tab and viewed by clicking on their name.
To send letters of condolence, and sign guestbook, please visit www.torbertfuneral.com