Obituary of Claire M. Vota

Claire M. Vota, 97, of Freehold, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at home on October 29, 2021. A long-time resident of Freehold, Claire was born on September 25, 1924, in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in Nashville, Tennessee where she developed an appreciation and talent for piano, singing, and dance. Claire later attended and graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University. An accomplished pianist and singer (alto), she was also a member of the Collegiate Chorale during her college years. While working at the New York Public Library in 1946, Claire met her then future husband, Philip Albert Vota. They were married in 1952 and raised three boys. Their family moved to Freehold Borough from Bronx, New York in 1969. Claire taught music in the Freehold Borough School District for several years before transitioning to an elementary school teaching position with the Marlboro Township Public School District during the 1970s and 80s. She had been retired for over 30 years at the time of her death. Although pre-deceased by her husband Philip in 1991, Claire is survived by her three sons, Christopher Vota (and wife, Debbie), James Philip Vota (and wife, Nancy), and Peter Vota (and wife, Virginia). Also surviving are her brother Edward Valentine Mayer, as well as her four grandchildren, Allison Vota, Lydia Vota, Nicholas Vota, and Robert Vota. Claire loved growing roses, tending to her tomato plants and trimming her beautiful hydrangeas. She also enjoyed solving The NY Times Crossword puzzles, was an avid reader, and connected with friends and family members by telephone after she stopped driving. The viewing will be held at Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold, New Jersey on Tuesday, November 2nd from 3:00 to 7:00 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, 16 McLean Street in Freehold on Wednesday, November 3rd at 10:30 AM, followed by entombment at St. Rose of Lima Mausoleum, 299 Freehold-Englishtown Road, also in Freehold. Donations in her memory may be made to The Juilliard School on-line at: https://giving.juilliard.edu/gift Change in method of broadcast: Mrs. Vota's Mass will be broadcast over the church's website. The link is shown below. Look for the link for Mass being broadcast on Facebook. https://www.stroseoflima.com/