Claire McVeigh, Longtime Smithtown Resident, Dies At 78

PEORIA, AZ — Claire Marion Murphy McVeigh, a longtime resident of Smithtown, died on March 25 at the age of 78 in Peoria, Arizona. She was surrounded by daughters Danielle and Michelle, and Michelle’s family.

She died peacefully from natural causes with her humor intact just four days shy of her 79th birthday.

Claire was born to Billy and June (Goodman) Murphy in Brooklyn on March 29, 1943. She was the first of 10 children. Her sister, Margaret Murphy Marblo, died in 2015, and her brother Stephen died shortly after birth in 1955.

Wed to Eddie McVeigh in 1962, they were married for 38 years until his untimely death in July 2000. Claire then met Donny Kondenar and spent 12 happy years with him; they were inseparable until his death in 2014.

"Family was everything to Claire, and she spent her life in service to those she loved," her family wrote. "Her legacy will live on in her extended family and friends."

Grandmother to nine: Jack, Isabel, Will and Sophie Cassou; Victoria and Vincent Trujillo; Mason and Morgan McVeigh; Alison Sardi. Mother to four: Gabrielle Wessberg (Kenny), Danielle Sardi (David), Michelle Trujillo (Victor) and Timothy McVeigh. Sister to Sheila Steinmuller (John), Betty Ann Herley (Mike), Bob Murphy, Jeanne Beggins (Jimmy), Chris Murphy, Chuck Murphy, and Amy Gilhooly (Steve); Aunt to countless nieces and nephews and their children.

Claire could always be relied on to belt out a show tune, debate about politics or tell you what she was reading. An accomplished baker, party-giver and gracious hostess, a small intimate dinner party was at least 30 in attendance. She loved fresh flowers from the garden, homemade soup and a good dirty joke from time to time.

A celebration of life memorial is planned for later this year.

If you would like to make a donation in Claire’s memory, her favorite charity was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.