Claire Ignacki Stokely Memorial

Two more videos here from Lynn Griffin. She made these from old childhood photos I had. They’re perfect. Absolutely perfect. But I need to warn you, these videos come with the *Tissue Alert*.

Our stepsister, Lynn Griffin, made this very touching video of Claire. Enjoy.

Our sister, Claire Ignacki Stokely, died suddenly on Mother’s Day, May 9 2010. She was 52. Welcome to her Memorial Page. There will be more pictures, thoughts, stories, and videos in the coming days (and weeks and months and years).

She was buried today - a beautiful spring day with blue skies and sunshine.

Here is the official obituary written by her immediate family.

Claire Ignacki Stokely, of Warrenton, Virginia, devoted mother, loving wife of 26 years, artist, musician, avid gardener, horse enthusiast, lover of color, flowers and designer of everything beautiful, passed to Heaven on Mother’s Day, May 9th, 2010. She is well known and loved by her family and friends in the community, where she knew how to shake things up and get things done. She was active in the Fauquier County Democratic Committee and volunteered her time and talent to the Afro American Historical Association in The Plains, Virginia. She touched many lives and always gave more than she asked for in return. She was a giver, lover, mother and friend who will be deeply missed by her husband Peter Stokely, daughter Katherine Stokely, and friends. She left a void in life that will be impossible to fill.

Claire, daughter of Anthony and Dorothy Ignacki of Bridgewater, New Jersey, is a graduate of the College of Agriculture at West Virginia University. She met her husband Peter at WVU and they were married in Warrenton, Virginia in 1984. Their daughter Katherine was born in Warrenton in 1985. After eight years of living in Titusville, NJ, Claire returned to Fauquier County with her family where she spent the last 13 years raising her daughter, being active in the community, and creating a beautiful and loving home and gardens for all those who visited. Funeral services will be held at 1pm Saturday, May 15, 2010 at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 271 Winchester Street, Warrenton, Virginia. Burial will follow in Bright View Cemetery. It is requested that any gifts of remembrances be in the form a donation in her name to the Afro American Historical Association of Fauquier County, 4243 Loudoun Avenue, P.O. Box 340, The Plains, Virginia, 20198.

Claire, no matter what may have happened or what people might think or say, we miss you. Love, your brother Robert and your sister Andrea.

Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated. ~Lamartine