04/22/2026
Clare D. Noury, 97, passed away March 29th 2026 at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire.
Clare was born in Clinton, Massachusetts to John and Rose (Walker) Donovan, and spent her formative years in Haverhill where she was the youngest graduate at St. James High School and earned national recognition for her cursive writing ability. She went on to graduate from the Bryant & Stratton Business College of Boston, taking employment at various businesses as a bookkeeper and then as an Accounting Coordinator for the Network, Inc. (Andover). She raised a family in Merrimac, teaching her three altar boys to swim at Lake Attitash, play ball at the Park, and to ski at Indian Mound (Newton, NH).
CDN 410, as she became known, was the backbone to her husband’s foray into stock car racing at Groveland’s Pines Speedway and then into boat racing throughout New England. As matriarch of Stardust Racing, beginning in 1955 she immersed herself in the hydroplane community and developed strong affection for her extended family the South Shore Outboard Association. She really lit up at the ocean but brought a sparkle to wherever she happened to be at the time. She greatly missed her husband Gus since his passing in 1999 and proudly kept their Newton home until her final weekend. A cub scout den mother, she was also involved with Friends of the Library, the Red Hatters, and the Ladies Sodality Church of Nativity. Her interests included textile trades, auctions, racing, skating, skiing, dancing, leopard fashion, and teaching children how to bet poker pennies at the beach. For all she accomplished she was quite humble accept when counting pennies won or lost from the youngest of her little friends.
Clare was tough and had a strong work ethic, making life fun while emphasizing the importance of sweat, education and initiative. Hanging in her home was an embroidered reminder, “Don’t Wait for Your Ship to Come In, Swim Out After It”.
Clare was predeceased by her husband Norm “Gus” Noury, her eldest son Steve, and six siblings (Helen, Irma, Joan, Martin, Marie, and Rose). She is survived by two sons, Thomas and Timothy, their wives Yvonne and Sarah, daughter in-law Maureen, her youngest sister Marcia and husband Norman D’Entremont, grandchildren Jacob Noury, Jessica Trammel, David Noury, Monica Lynch, and Zy Noury, great-grandchildren June Trammel, Jett Trammel, Cameron Patrick, Taylor Brennan, Ella Brennan, Vaeda Penelope Noury, Margot Monroe Noury, and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian burial on Monday, April 27th at 10:30AM at Church of the Nativity, Merrimac, Massachusetts. Burial to follow at St. James Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your favourite charity and raise a glass to Clare. Please visit www.comeaufuneral.com or Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook.