Sister Claire Belforti, SSJ, 94

FRAMINGHAM – Sister of St. Joseph Claire Belforti (formerly Sister Grace Edward), 94, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Framingham on Nov. 24. A native of Milford, she was the daughter of Edward and Grace (Byrnes) Belforti.
She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from Sacred Heart Parish, Hopedale, in 1950. She graduated from St. Mary Central Catholic High School, Milford. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, and a master’s degree in education from Boston College.
She served as an elementary teacher at St. Thomas the Apostle School, West Springfield; St. Peter, Worcester; St. Mary, Southbridge; and Milford Catholic Elementary. She taught secondary education at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Worcester; Cathedral High School, Springfield; St. Mary/Marianhill, Southbridge; and St. Mary, Milford. She was principal at St. Mary’s and Milford Catholic Elementary Schools, Milford. She served at La Salette Conference Center, Enfield, New Hampshire, and as parish minister at Sacred Heart Parish, Milford. She also served her congregation as an administrator at Mont Marie, Holyoke.
In addition to her sisters in community, she leaves her sister, Frances Giacomuzzi and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Sister of St. Joseph Grace Belforti, Marie Gaffney and Ann Lopes.
Services were held in Sacred Heart Church, Milford. Burial was in St. Mary Cemetery, Milford.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.