Cover photo for Claire Mae (Marek)  O’Dowd's Obituary
1944 Claire 2021

Claire Mae (Marek) O’Dowd

July 18, 1944 — January 6, 2021

Claire Marek O’Dowd was received into the presence of her Savior on January 6th, 2021. She was born in Waco, Texas, to John and Marcita Marek. The Marek Family moved to Albuquerque in 1959 and Claire attended Albuquerque High School where she thrived in the classroom and theatre program. As a senior in high school in 1961, she was one of five national winners of an essay contest sponsored by President John F. Kennedy’s Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped. She traveled to Washington, DC, where her award was presented to her by then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. She attended the University of New Mexico, graduating from the Honors Program in 1965 as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies and UNM’s chapter of the Delta Gamma sorority.

In 1966, Claire received her Master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She returned to Santa Fe and took a position in the State Planning Office. In 1967 she married Gary O’Dowd, and, in 1971, they moved back to Albuquerque where she began the higher calling of raising her three sons.

As a stay-at-home mom she volunteered in the school library, the Cub Scouts, Little League, soccer club, the PTA, and the Women’s Symphony Association, serving as an officer in several organizations. She also taught piano from 1972 to 1985.

When Claire returned to her professional life, she served in the 1988 reelection campaign of United States Senator Jeff Bingaman prior to joining the College of Pharmacy where she served as an accountant and finally as Assistant to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico.

Claire was a lifelong tennis enthusiast, often playing several times a week with different tennis groups. She was also an avid gardener and a lover of the music and dramatic performances at UNM’s Popejoy Hall. Most of all she delighted in time spent with her family backpacking, cross-country skiing, and traveling, and could often be heard boasting about the accomplishments of her 13 grandchildren.

Even during her illness, Claire brought warmth wherever she went. Whether at the NM Heart Institute’s New Heart Center for Health and Fitness, or the UNM Cancer Center, she befriended those she met, and always remembered them by name.

Claire was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers John and Thomas Marek. She is survived by her husband of more than 53 years and best friend, Gary O’Dowd, her sons, Brendon (Joan), Ryan (Amy), and Devin (Andrea), along with 8 grandsons, 5 granddaughters, and a great granddaughter.

Claire’s family was all important to her. She looked forward to calls from her children and grandchildren and took pride in their successes. Her hope was that her “progeny succeed in living a good life (neither rich nor poor, famous or infamous) and enjoy each moment as it comes”.

Her family cannot overstate how much she was loved and will be missed. They wish to thank the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the UNM Cancer Center, and Hospice of NM for their loving care.

A memorial service will be held via Zoom on Saturday, January 16 at 11:00am MT and a link can be received by emailing claireodowdmemorial@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to organizations that support causes closest to Claire’s heart: the DAV, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Joy Junction of Albuquerque.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Claire Mae (Marek) O’Dowd, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Memorial

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)

French Funeral Services

NM

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