Claire M. Barschdorf, 81

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Claire M. (Field) Barschdorf, 81, of North Adams, Mass., died on Friday, November 16, 2018, at her home. 

She was born in North Adams, Mass., on September 12, 1937, the daughter of the late Frank and Marion (St. Pierre) Field of North Adams. She graduated from Drury High School and continued her education at Wilfred Beauty Academy in Boston, Mass. Upon graduation, she returned to North Adams to work at, and then later manage, Rudy’s Beauty Salon until she started a family. In the early 1980s, she purchased and managed several rental properties in the MCLA area, retiring in 2017 due to poor health.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Rolando (Nino) Bernardara, whom she married in 1957; he died in 1963. Her second husband, Gerald F. Barschdorf, whom she married in 1964, died in 1999.

She is survived by two daughters, Michele Bernardara Malachuk and her husband, Eric Malachuk, of Heartwellville, Vt.; Marissa Barschdorf and her husband, Brian Manoogian of Adams; a son, Ferdinand Barschdorf of North Adams; nine grandchildren, Ethan Malachuk and his wife, Debora, of Clarksburg, Joshua Malachuk of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Aaron Malachuk and his wife, Kristin, of Stamford, Vt., Talitha Malachuk Walter and her husband, Marshall, of Garner, N.C., Hannah Malachuk of Louisville, Ky., Bethany, Adam, and Lydia Malachuk, all of Heartwellville, Vt. and Preston Keller of North Adams; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Carol Shea of North Adams; two brothers, Brent Field and his wife, Lorrie, of Cheshire and Frank Field and his wife, Mary, of North Adams; and many nieces and nephews.

Her son, Eric Barschdorf, predeceased her in 1969; her brother, Carl Field, in 1997; and her brother in law, Frederick Shea in 2015.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and heartfelt “thank you” to all the caregivers and health care professionals for their care and compassion over the past several months.

Funeral notice: At Mrs. Barschdorf’s request services will be private. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapel, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247.