Claire Departhy Oakley

Cumberland – Claire Departhy Oakley, 70, formerly of Beamis Avenue, but most recently of Elmhurst Extended Care in Providence, died Monday, January 1, 2018, surrounded by her loving family at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence.  She was the beloved wife of Lance L. Oakley.  Mr. & Mrs. Oakley had been married for forty-seven years.

Born in North Attleborough, Mass., a daughter of the late Joseph A. and Lillian (Richard) Departhy, she had lived in Cumberland for most of her life.

Mrs. Oakley worked as an administrative assistant at New England Insurance Co., now New England Financial, before retiring.  She was a communicant of St. Joan of Arc Church, Cumberland.

Having suffered the effects of Lewy Body Dementia, she is continuing in her giving spirit by donating her brain for research into the disease, to the Memory & Aging Program at Butler Hospital, in conjunction with the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University.

Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Tonya Oakley DePalma, and her husband Brian, of Mansfield, MA, and Tiffany Oakley Baxter, and her husband Joseph, of Rumford; one brother, Joseph A. Departhy, Jr. of Harrisville; four grandchildren, Maris Lillian DePalma, Bryce Clement Baxter, Brent Lloyd Baxter, and Damon Ronald DePalma; her sister-in-law, Sandra Graf, and her husband Paul; and her brother-in-law Mark Oakley, and his wife Linda.

Visiting hours will be held Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln.  Relatives and friends are invited.  Her funeral and burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to Hope Hospice & Palliative Care of R.I., 1085 North Main Street, Providence, R.I. 02904 would be appreciated.