Claire Louise Arena

Arena, Claire Louise (Smither) of Hingham, died January 17, 2022.

Claire carried herself with an elegance and grace that followed her across time and circumstance. A lover of art and culture, Claire traveled the world with her husband of 62 years; experiencing a diverse range of landscapes and traditions across countries and continents. The rooms of their well curated home display artwork and sculpture collected from the travel they shared both together and with dear friends and family. Claire developed an eye for design evident in her sense of personal style and within the homes she lived with her spouse and family in Hingham and Boston’s North End.  

Beyond aesthetics, Claire created a beautiful home primarily to raise, and later to host her adoring family, a primary focus of her life. As her family evolved, she looked forward to time together and their annual vacation on Cape Cod where the 3 generations gathered to share a week of fun and relaxation.  

A graduate of Girls’ Latin School and Emmanuel College, Claire had a brilliant mind. She taught high school history prior to starting a family, however remained a lifelong learner.  She loved to read and became a masterful cook. Together with her husband, they were known for regularly hosting family and friends for savory delights. During their travels, Claire and Phil spent a week in Verona taking cooking classes with Maria Battaglia, learning recipes they continued to recreate and serve to their guests. She was a member of the Hingham Historical Society and a well-respected, in high demand Docent at the JFK Library over the years. 

Claire was a kind and loving woman, a person of integrity and strength of character, with a fierce loyalty to her friends and family. Known for her beautiful smile and social sensibilities, she could light up a room, making everyone feel seen. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, however mostly by her devoted husband, who fell in love with her as a college coed on a blind date, and remained her biggest support throughout her lifetime.

Beloved wife of Philip J. Arena of Hingham. Loving mother of Alison Blackburn of Hingham, Maribeth Arena and her partner William Hurley of Blackstone, Gretchen McAuliffe and her husband Daniel of Dedham, Philip J. Arena, Jr. and his wife Debbie of Bridgewater, and Julianne Arena of Norwell. Cherished “Gram” of Edward Raymond Blackburn, III, Caroline Claire McAuliffe, Philip John Arena, III, Jack Lawrence Arena, Anthony Charles Arena, Benjamin Christopher Belisle, and Isabel Grace Belisle.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Sunday 2-6 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), Hingham. The Funeral Mass will be Monday 10 AM in Church of the Resurrection, Hingham. Burial in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Hingham. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.