Leclair Whalen

Leclair Christine Whalen, 65, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after suffering from dementia.
Leclair was born on August 1, 1954 in Whittier, California. She was the daughter of the late John Thomas and Leclair Christine Whalen.
She attended a day program, Retirement Our Way, ROW, at Community Living since she and her mother moved to Frederick in 2002. They lived together at Country Meadows Retirement Community until her mother's death in 2006 where Leclair became a resident of Community Living.
Leclair attended school in Montgomery County when the family lived in Silver Spring. She continued school when the family moved to Moorestown, New Jersey. The family then moved to Chesapeake, Virginia and Leclair graduated from school at the age of 21. Leclair then began a 33 year career working at the Tidewater Rehabilitation Center until her retirement, after five years of employment, from TGI Fridays in Frederick.
In Leclair's younger years, she was a girl scout; participated in special olympics activities; enjoyed swimming in the family's pool; visiting her grandparents in New York and her sisters in Maryland and New Jersey; she tolerated sharing the backseat of the car with her faithful family dog, Lobo. In 2000, Leclair went on her first plane ride and enjoyed meeting the princesses and characters on a Disney cruise to the Bahamas.
Leclair was a faithful church goer to St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, Virginia and was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Frederick. Leclair attended Special Challenge Week at the Clagett Center in Buckeystown. Leclair loved music, she loved to dance and sing along with Patsy Cline songs, especially "Crazy."
Leclair was so loved by the caretakers and aides at Community Living and her group in Middletown and Frederick, especially Vicky, Paula, Kathy and Karen and many, many others.
Leclair is survived and will be greatly missed by her sisters, Arlene Kuhn of Frederick, Elizabeth Slojewski (Paul) of New Jersey, Frances Whalen (Jim) of North Carolina; and brother, John Whalen of Ohio; cousin, Robert of New York; nephews, George, JT, David and Ryan; nieces, Denise, Christine, Debbie, Kimberly and Jennifer. She is also survived by 22 great-nieces and great-nephews; one great-great nephew; former sister-in-law, Shirley; and brother-in-law, George.
Leclair was preceded in death by her aunts and uncles; and one niece, Kelly.
The family wishes to express their thanks to the many caretakers, aides and nurses at Community Living, Country Meadows; and her doctors, Janet Ciarkowski and Cynthia Fields; her special friend, Mary Young; and her pastors, Rev. Adrian Dawson and Jessica Holtus.
Services for Leclair will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 106 W. Church Street, Frederick, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to services.
Memorial donations may be made to Community Living, 620 Research Drive, Frederick, MD 21703 or to Special Challenge Week at All Saints Episcopal Church.
Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.