M. Claire (Cunningham) Sylvia, 81, died Saturday, January 8, 2011 at Tobey Hospital in Wareham. She was the wife of Manuel J. Sylvia. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on December 31, 2010.

Born in Providence, RI, she was the daughter of the late Martin and Constance Cunningham. A previous resident of Manhattan, Mrs. Sylvia has been a resident of Wareham since 1946.

For many years, Mrs. Sylvia was the school lunch program director for Wareham Public Schools.

A communicant of St. Patrick’s Church in Wareham, Mrs. Sylvia was a member of St. Patrick’s Circle, Wareham Emblem Club, Friends of Sacred Heart Seminary and Tobey Hospital Guild. She enjoyed bingo, dancing, singing and baking; and was happiest when surrounded by her family and her dog, “Sassy”.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Bruce D. Sylvia of Northampton and Paul J. Sylvia and his wife Nancy of Sandwich; three daughters, Marsha Haskell, widow of the late Daniel Haskell of Wareham; Patricia Dipasqua and her husband Andy of Buzzards Bay and Pam Franklin and her husband Gil “Dobie” of Marion; two brothers, Martin Cunningham of NY and Richard Cunningham of SC; one sister, Barbara Mahr of VA; ten grandchildren, Brian Haskell, Stephanie Haskell Davis, Michael Sylvia, Allison Sylvia, Amy Dipasqua Jope, Peter Dipasqua, Amanda Dipasqua Curtis, and Jessica, Nicole and Michelle Franklin; ten great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters, the late Dorothy Gillick and Patricia Tricarico.

Her funeral will be held on Fri., Jan. 14, 2011 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham at 9 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, High St., Wareham at 10 a.m. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Wareham. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

For directions and on-line guestbook visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.