Claire B. Harding

May 7, 1930 - November 29, 2020

Born May 7, 1930, Claire Harding migrated with her family from deep in the farmland of Nebraska to Ann Arbor, Michigan. During the height of the Great Depression after the extended family's farms were wiped out in the Dust Bowl, Claire arrived here in sixth grade. Her father, a skilled welder, quickly found work in the automotive industry. The family household was a bustle of activity and served as a safe harbor for many similarly migrating families, friends, and students, as a type of boarding house with rooms to rent and where everyone pitched in to help one another. Claire attended Bach Elementary school, Slauson Junior High School, Ann Arbor High School (back when it was in the Frieze building downtown), and Eastern Michigan University. Coming from a heritage of hard working German & Norwegian farm descent, she wanted to help the family by getting a job and in the seventh grade began working at the Chelsea Flower Shop in downtown Ann Arbor. Working at the flower shop after school was a joy for Claire. Her warmth, caring heart, fun-loving spirit, eye for floral design, and commitment to customer service made Claire a role model for others. Her career became a focus and as the years passed, Claire married Brad Harding (deceased 2011) in 1955. In a Cinderella-like surprise and in response to her hard work, the former owner of Chelsea Flower Shop left the shop to Claire upon her passing. The shop flourished under Claire's leadership for nearly 40 years. She employed her high school friends, family, new-made friends, college students, her son's friends and classmates, and made many new life-long friends there. Claire and her teams designed and delivered flowers for thousands of Weddings, Funerals, and celebrations. She bought the workers lunch every day from the local downtown businesses and never forgot anyone's birthday. And if she did, she always found a way to make up for it. She is loved by many who passed through the doors of CFS. After selling the shop in 2005, Claire continued working there until 2012 when her health declined and she was hospitalized, eventually retiring to Oakmont Northville Senior Community, where she recently contracted Covid-19. Claire was admitted to Ascension Providence Park Hospital in Novi on Sunday, November 22 and passed peacefully in her sleep on November 29, 2020 due to complications from the Covid-19 virus. She is survived by her son, Jeff (wife Kim), and Grandchildren Megan (19) and Matthew (17). Claire loved children and animals and would ask that you make a donation to either St. Jude Hospital for Children, your local Humane Society, or your favorite charity. In the final act of her spirit of giving, Claire donated her body to the University of Michigan Anatomical Donations Program for the advancement of medical science, as did her husband. However, since she died from Covid-19, she is not eligible for the program. The Service that she had intended for us to attend will be held through the University of Michigan Anatomical Donations Program in Spring 2021 and are currently suspended due to Covid-19. Information and tickets are available here: Anatomical donations program Claire's remains will come to rest at Washtenong Memorial Park along with her husband, Brad. She loved picnics and relished get togethers, and would hope that we would do that after this service and people have an opportunity to get vaccinated. "We'll see" and "Time will tell" were a couple of her favorite taglines. Let's pray for all the other families about to go through the loss of a loved one while we pause to monitor the scheduling of the U of M ceremony and then figure out when the picnic can be scheduled. St. Thomas the Apostle Church of Ann Arbor will be praying for Claire in Mass this coming Sunday, December 6, at 9:00AM. The Service is available Livestream on either YouTube or Facebook at: St.Thomas There will also be a Mass offered in Claire's name at St. Thomas the Apostle Church of Ann Arbor on January 17, 2021 using the same link above. The love, thoughts, and prayers of everyone are greatly appreciated by the family through these difficult times. Cards are being sent to Jeff Harding, 1723 Dexter Ave. #1, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103