Claire Eileen (Smart) Whittaker, 70, of Logan Township, longtime teacher and principal in the Diocese of Camden, died Feb. 12.
Her 40 year-career in Catholic education began in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where she taught at Holy Spirit School in Sharon Hill. From there, she began teaching in South Jersey, first at Saint Michael’s in Gibbstown (1986-1987), and later Saint Joseph’s in Swedesboro (1987-1993), before earning a master’s degree in education from Rowan University, Glassboro, and transitioning into school administration.
She was the principal of Saint James Grammar School in Penns Grove (1993-2000), and Bishop Guilfoyle Regional Catholic School in Carneys Point (2000-2004), ending her career as vice principal at Saint Mary School in Williamstown, where she served from 2004 until her retirement in 2016.
Family and colleagues remembered a woman strong in the faith, a friend to everybody, and an advocate for Catholic education.
“She touched a lot of people’s lives,” said Patricia Mancuso, current Saint Mary School principal, a friend and colleague of Whittaker for more than 20 years.
Mancuso recalled a gracious and kind person who “loved her job, her students and wanted the best for everybody.”
“There was nothing she loved more than her students, and the children who needed the most help and guidance always found her,” Whittaker’s family remembered in announcing her death. “Her children always joked with her that they had thousands of siblings out there. She was the kind of woman who could never leave a grocery store without someone recognizing her and telling her how much she had helped their child. She believed in Catholic education more than anything and continued to support it until the day she died.”
Sister Rose DiFluri, assistant superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Camden, said, “If I could use one word to describe Claire, it would be ‘kind.’”
Above all, Whittaker was “dedicated to enriching the faith life of each and every one of her students. She was what we refer to as a ‘lifer’ in Catholic education, and we were fortunate to have her as a principal in several of our schools.”
Outside of the classroom, she loved camping with her husband and granddaughter, crafting wreaths for neighbors, making blankets for family and watching Jason Statham movies.
Whittaker is survived by her husband of 45 years, William J. Whittaker Jr.; daughter Erin Teresa; and son Sean Joseph, all of Swedesboro; “bonus daughter” Amber Arroyo; granddaughter Sky Lynn; siblings Kevin Smart (Mary) of Michigan, Karen Smart of Washington, John Smart of Colorado, Rita Marie Smart-Kubala (Gary) of Maryland, and Suzanne Smart of California; in-laws Thomas Whittaker (Denise) of Deptford, Virginia Whittaker of Deptford, Virginia Price of Philadelphia, and Eileen Flannigan of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
A viewing is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Feb. 18 at Boucher Funeral Home, 1757 Delsea Dr., Deptford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Feb. 19 in Saint Joseph Church, 140 West Broad St., Swedesboro, a worship site of Saint Clare of Assisi Parish.
Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School, PO Box 89. Chamberlain, SD, 57325 or Childfund International, 2821 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, VA.
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