Caryl Anne-Marie St. Claire

CARYL ST. CLAIRE After a courageous battle with lung cancer, Caryl (known affectionately as “Gogo” to her family), passed away peacefully on May 14th, 2020 at the age of 76. Caryl is survived by her sister, June Chojnacki, and was preceded in death by her sister, Jeannie St. Claire, and brother, Denny St. Claire. Caryl was a dear and loving aunt to Terri Wagner (Jim) and Scott Chojnacki. She was also a “great”-aunt to Nick and Rebecca Wagner. Additionally, Caryl is survived by her beloved cat, “Cheeto”, who has been adopted by the Wagner family. Caryl was born to Harold and Cecilia St. Claire on November 17, 1943, in Cudahy, WI, and attended Cudahy High School. She began her 45-year career in the insurance industry with Association Life and ended at Unitrin Business Insurance (formerly Milwaukee Insurance Group), where she supervised the licensing and contracting of more than a thousand agencies. Caryl built many relationships during this time which lasted throughout her lifetime. After retirement, she volunteered for a number of organizations including the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, for whom she produced hundreds of handmade cards for the veterans. Caryl also volunteered for her neighborhood park association and worked with VolunteerMatch assisting several organizations with their brochures and advertising. Caryl had many hobbies and interests including cooking, reading, gardening, cross-stitching, card making, scrapbooking, and various papercrafts. All of her family and friends benefitted from receiving handmade “Cards by Caryl”. Additionally, she put together several “Family & Friends” cookbooks, and wrote a monthly newsletter entitled “Caryl's Clips”. She was an avid shopper and greatly enjoyed rummage sales – both going to them and holding her own annual sale for almost forty years. Caryl also had a strong interest in genealogy and spent many years researching her family history, as well as the family histories of friends. Throughout her life, Caryl’s kindness, sense of humor, and genuine interest in people earned her many friends and lasting connections. She brought a spark of joy to everyone she met and will be missed dearly by her family and so very many friends. To know Caryl was to love Caryl, and her family is deeply comforted to learn how many lives she touched. Due to Covid-19, a private family interment will be held, but the family hopes to have a Celebration of Life Ceremony as soon as circumstances allow. Please check for updates on the Max Sass Funeral Home website. Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to the Wisconsin Humane Society.