Claire Bassie-Strickland, 68
ADAMS, Mass. — Claire Ann Bassie-Strickland, 68, of 17 Newark St. died early Monday morning, Nov. 14, 2011, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
Born in Adams on Feb. 20, 1943, a daughter of Florind and Catherine Bossi Bassie, she attended schools in Adams, and graduated from the former Adams High School in 1961. She also attended the former North Adams State College and Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield and earned a medical assistant degree from Maria College in Albany, N.Y., and completed the Life Underwriter Training Course at Carolina State University.
Mrs. Bassie-Strickland was self-employed as an insurance broker and tax preparer for many years.
She was a member of the former Adams Chamber of Commerce, the Friends Helping Friends group at Carolina State University, and was a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society.
Her husband, Wilbur C. Strickland, whom she married in 1987, died on October 26, 2010.
She leaves a niece, Iris A. Epps of White Pine, Tenn.; two stepsons, Edwin W. Strickland II of New Britain, Conn., and Clifford Strickland of Otis; a stepdaughter, Chrystal O'Brien of Sandisfield; and two stepgrandchildren, Michelle Ransom and April DeHaas.
She was predeceased by two sisters, Alma Ziarnik and Josephine Brown; a brother, Floyd Bassie, and a stepgrandson, David Strickland.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for Mrs. Bassie-Strickland will be conducted Thursday, Nov. 17, at 1:30 p.m. from Paciorek Funeral Home, 13 Hoosac St., by the Rev. Michael Mullany, pastor of First Congregational Church. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams.
A calling hour will be held Thursday from 12:30 p.m. until the service. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society through the funeral home. To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, go to www.apsfuneralhome.com.