Claire L. Langdon passed away peacefully on January 9, 2025, to the aroma of banana bread baking in her home while under the loving care of her children. She was born June 10, 1944, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Arthur J. and Clara C. Langdon, the fourth of five children. The family moved to Haddam Neck, Conn., in 1951. She graduated from East Hampton High School. She moved from Middlefield, Conn., to South China, Maine, in 1977 and later to Sheffield in 2000.
Claire began her working life as a dairy farmer in Connecticut and later worked for Hannaford Brothers in Waterville, Maine. She was an avid gardener; her large vegetable garden fed her family through the winter. Claire was an excellent baker and made many loaves of bread in her bread pail with milk fresh from the cows; her cream puffs were an extra special treat. Her flower gardens provided beautiful blooms for family and friends. She made many floral arrangements for family functions and entered them in local fairs and was a member of three Gladiola societies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Claire enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles and in her later years always had one going on her “puzzle table,” and she loved completing word search puzzle books while watching her Hallmark channel. Claire will be remembered for being honest, vibrant, and fun and for her words of wisdom and being the “rock” of her family.
Her greatest accomplishment and the love and joy of her life were her children. Claire is survived by her daughter Mary Sanstrom (Brian), of Augusta, Maine; her two sons, John Sanstrom (Sandy Andrews), of New Britain, Conn., and Linus Sanstrom III (Karen), of Hebron, Conn.; four grandchildren, Rachel Sanstrom, Andrew Littlejohn, Jacob Sanstrom, and Abigayle Sanstrom; and two great-grandchildren, Peyton and Nova. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Joan Langdon (Robert), of Manchester, N.H.; many nieces and nephews; along with special friends Warren Wilcox of Sheffield, Mass., and Bette Ann Stalker, of New Marlborough, Mass. She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings: Arthur his wife Claudia, Jeanette, Robert, and Edward Hampton Langdon and his infant daughter Judith Lynn Sanstrom.
The family would like to thank Sonja, Audrey, Amanda, and Andrea of HospiceCare in the Berkshires for their care and Berkshire Elder Services’ Meals on Wheels program and the volunteers who delivered her noontime meal.
Though she will be deeply missed, her spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in her memory be made to HospiceCare in the Berkshires, 877 South St 1W, Pittsfield, MA 01201, or Elder Services of Berkshire County’s Meals on Wheels program, 73 South Church St, Pittsfield MA 01201.
At Claire’s request there will be no formal funeral or services. A family committal service will be held in June at the New Rock Landing Cemetery, Haddam Neck, Conn. Condolences may be made through the website of Birches-Roy Funeral Home.
