Susan Muir’s Eulogy to her Mum - August 2015
My name is Sue, and I’m Claire’s eldest child. I want to share a bit about my Mum with you all – her friends and family.
Claire was a woman with an abundance of personality, overflowing with warmth, charm and vitality.
She was born on 29 July 1930 at Junee Reefs in western NSW. She was the 11th child of Irene and Bill O'Brien and was a sister to 11 siblings.
Claire - 1948 - Seated 3rd from the right and holding Helen
She was a much-loved aunt to a multitude of nieces and nephews, and was lovingly referred to as ‘AC’ by the Landsberry Family. Claire was a wife, a mother of five, a mother-in-law, a grandmother to 20, a great grandmother to 5, and a friend to multitudes.
Claire's family was at the core of her life. She had 5 sisters and 6 brothers: Mary, Jack, Alan, Harold, Cyril, Helen, Joan, Frank, Gwen, Reg and Anne.
All of the family were affected by WWII, with four of her six brothers and one of her sisters serving in the forces. For a time, Claire's eldest brother Jack was missing in action, while the second eldest, Alan, was tragically killed, and the third eldest Harold was seriously wounded and hospitalised for a year.
Since that time, all of her siblings had passed on except for Gwen and Anne who are here today.
She was particularly close to these two sisters - the three of them were fondly referred to by the family as 'The Three Sisters’.
She also maintained close relationships with brother Frank's widow - Kath O'Brien in WA, and Harold's widow, Joan O'Brien in Queensland.
The family have always been supportive of each other.
A great many of their offspring - I think there are something like 45 first cousins alone - have been privileged to enjoy the close family relationships of the O'Brien clan over many years.
Claire had the advantage of a healthy country upbringing, growing up on the family property Cooberang between Junee and Temora in New South Wales. All the O’Brien clan lived on the farm and there were plenty of hands to help make them self-sufficient. The family was so large there was no need to look elsewhere for companionship.
Cooberang
School was an 11 kilometre trip in a horse drawn buggy to Junee Reefs School. At one time O'Brien siblings represented one-third of the primary school students.
Claire's ‘Finishing School’ was what some considered to be a posh one – ‘Montay’ (Monte St Angelo) in North Sydney.
Her talents were many, and included dressmaking in which she was formally trained with designer Germaine Roche. She continued dressmaking to supplement the family income after her marriage.
Madame Roche (Vera Fels)
She even took on the task of wedding party and formal dresses for family and friends, including my own wedding gown and a number of others in our family.
Chris and Peter’s Wedding - with Kerri, Wendi and Sue
Claire also had a lovely soprano singing voice, and she often sang in the St Thomas Church choir and at other church functions in the parish.
In 1951 she married Harry Henkes, and I was their first born - she ASSURES me that I was born exactly 9 months after the wedding. I was fortunate that Mum and Dad went on to produce my two sisters and two brothers before they parted in the early 1960s.
Claire and Harry
Claire continued to raise the family of 5 kids on her own – and that was no mean feat. She ruled, not with an iron rod, but with a forbidding glare which was enough to have us all quaking in our shoes.
Claire was supported by all her siblings through the years she raised us, but particularly by Gwen and Alf. Robert, Kathleen and David have grown very close to Claire and we 5 Henkes children over the years.
Claire met the ‘significant other’ in her life - John Strookman in early 1970s - John was involved in our family life until his death in 1986.
John Strookman
Claire's interests were varied. She loved music, particularly classical and opera and her crooners - a firm favourite was Al Martino.
She was the party hostess extraordinaire and an excellent cook. She could rustle up a mean Nasi Goreng - and was the centre point for our family and young people of the CYO in her home at Tulloh Street Willoughby for many years.
33 Tulloh Street, Willoughby
She loved her garden and flowers - especially her roses.
She was the ‘Op Shop Queen’, never tiring of telling you about the amazing bargains she had picked up - describing herself as ‘tinny’.
Claire could never say ‘No’ to a party or social event invitation and loved a glass of wine or two (it does run in the family!).
But Claire also gave back to the community. She was a long time and committed parishioner of St Thomas Willoughby, and she did voluntary soup kitchen work for Matthew Talbot Hostel in Sydney City with Gwen and Anne.
As one of their best customers, she was a great supporter of St Vincent De Paul stores in all states of Australia that she visited!
Those who knew Claire well, would agree that she was a skilled communicator. She could strike up a conversation with anyone anywhere anytime. Her smile was a door opener - even perfect strangers were no obstacle for Mum's communication skills and strangers often became fast friends of hers.
Never shy in putting forward her view, one of her favourite sayings was: "If you want my opinion...." and before you could draw breath - she would give it to you.
Her verbal skills made her the best car travel companion you could ask for. There was never a lull in conversation, even on long trips like Sydney to Brisbane.
Her phone was her lifeline, and she made constant efforts to keep in contact with family and friends near and far - always ready to listen intently to everyone's joys and sorrows, and to help if she could.
A nephew rightly described Claire as the ‘anchor point’ for family members visiting Sydney from the country, and she took everyone in with open arms.
I don't think I would be exaggerating if I said that Claire was blessed with more than her fair share of outstanding personal qualities. She was what you would call in old fashioned terms ‘A Grand Lady’ and was by turns:
warm hearted and sympathetic
fun-loving and funny
practical and resilient
honest and trustworthy
strong in her Catholic Faith
and unfailingly generous in giving to others
Claire was also Impulsive and strong willed and didn’t always say the right thing at the right moment.
She could be demanding and yet people would bend over backwards to accommodate her.
Claire engaged in life with an energy and enthusiasm like no one I have ever known.
Life was her treasure chest. Each day she opened that treasure chest eagerly anticipating what the day would bring. Each relationship was a jewel valued and cared for, and events in life, whether important or ordinary, were like gems to be appreciated.
Claire herself was a treasure - a diamond of the first water. Her welcoming smile and genuine interest in those who came in contact with her brightened the lives of so many people here today.
The loss of her vital presence in the lives of we five children and our partners - Eric, Steve, Peter, Jo and Therese and our children - cuts more deeply than words can express.
Steve, Wendi, Chris and Simon would now like to share some of their recollections about our extraordinary mother.
Sue Muir’s original Notes
Claire's family was the core of her life
5 Sisters and 6 brothers: Mary, Jack, Alan, Harold, Cyril, Helen, Joan, Frank, Gwen, Reg and Anne
All of the family were affected by WWII and three of her brothers served in the forces.
For a time, Claire's eldest brother Jack was missing in action, the second eldest Alan was tragically killed, and the third eldest Harold was seriously wounded and hospitalised for a year.
Since that time, all of her siblings had passed on except for Gwen and Anne who are here today.
She was particularly close to these two sisters - the three of them were fondly referred to by the family as 'The Three Sisters’.
She also maintained close relationships with brother Frank's widow - Kath O'Brien in WA, and Harold's widow, Joan O'Brien in Queensland.
The family have always been supportive of each other.
A great many of their offspring - I think there are something like 45 first cousins alone - have been privileged to enjoy the close family relationships of the O'Brien clan over many years.
Claire had the advantage of a healthy country upbringing
Growing was on the family property Cooberang between Junee and Temora in New South Wales.
All the O’Brien clan lived on the farm and there were plenty of hands to help make them self-sufficient.
The family was so large there was no need to look elsewhere for companionship.
School was an 11 kilometre trip in a horse drawn buggy to Junee Reefs School.
At one time O'Brien siblings represented one-third of the primary school students.
The family moved to Earl Street Cremorne in around 1939.
Claire's "Finishing School" was at what some consider to be a posh school - "Montay" (Monte St Angelo) North Sydney.
Claire's Talents included
Dressmaking - was formally trained with designer Germaine Roche - she continued dressmaking to supplement the family income after marriage.
She even took on the task of wedding party and formal dresses for family and friends, including my own wedding gown and a number of others in our family.
SINGING - lovely soprano voice - sang in St Thomas Church choir and at church functions in the parish
Claire launched out on her own
In 1951 she married Harry Henkes
I was her first born - she ASSURES me that I was born exactly 9 months after the wedding.
I was fortunate that mum and dad went on to produce my two sisters and two brothers before they parted in the early 1960s.
Claire continued to raise the family on 5 her own - no mean feat - she ruled, not with an iron rod, but with a forbidding glare which was enough to have us all quaking in our shoes.
Claire was supported by all her siblings through the years she raised us, but particularly by Gwen and Alf. Robert, Kathleen and David have grown very close to Claire and we 5 Henkes children over the years.
Claire met the "significant other" in her life - John Strookman in early 1970s - John was involved in our family life until his death in 1986.
Claire's interests were varied
Loved music, particularly classical and opera and her crooners - a firm favourite was Al Martino.
Party hostess extraordinaire and excellent cook - could rustle up a mean Nasi Goreng - and was the centre point for our family and young people of the CYO in her home at Tulloh Street Willoughby for many years,
She loved her garden and flowers - especially her roses,
She was the "Op Shop Queen" - never tired of telling you about the amazing bargains she had picked up - describing herself as "Tinny".
Could never say "No" to a party or social event invitation and loved a glass of wine or two (it does run in the family!).
Claire gave back to the community
Long time and committed parishioner of St Thomas Willoughby.
Did voluntary soup kitchen work for Matthew Talbot Hostel in Sydney City with Gwen and Anne.
As one of their best customers - She was a great supporter of St Vincent De Paul stores in all States of Australia that she visited!
Claire was a skilled communicator
Could strike up a conversation with anyone anywhere anytime - her smile was a door opener - even perfect strangers were no obstacle for mum's communication skills and strangers often became fast friends of hers,
Never shy in putting forward her view - favourite saying "If you want my opinion...." and before you could draw breath - she would give it to you.
The best car travel companion you could ask for - never a lull in conversation even on long trips Sydney – Brisbane.
Her phone was her lifeline and she made constant efforts to keep contact with family and friends near and far - always ready to listen intently to everyone's joys and sorrows and to help if she could.
A nephew has described her as the "anchor point" for family members visiting Sydney from the Country and she took everyone in with open arms.
Claire had an abundance of qualities
I don't think I would be exaggerating if I said that Claire was blessed with more than her fair share of outstanding personal qualities:
She was what you would call in old fashioned terms "A Grand Lady" and was by turns:
warm hearted and sympathetic
fun-loving and funny
practical and resilient
honest and trustworthy
strong in her Catholic Faith
and unfailingly generous in giving to others
Claire was also:
Impulsive and strong willed and did not always say the right thing at the right moment.
She could be demanding and yet people would bend over backwards to accommodate her.
Claire engaged in life with an energy and enthusiasm like no one I have ever known.
Life was her treasure chest. Each day she opened that treasure chest eagerly anticipating what the day would bring. Each relationship was a jewel valued and cared for, and events in life, whether important or ordinary, were like gems to be appreciated.
Claire herself was a treasure - a diamond of the first water. Her welcoming smile and genuine interest in those who came in contact with her brightened the lives of so many people here today.
The loss of her vital presence in the lives of we 5 and our partners - Eric, Steve, Peter, Jo and Therese and our children - cuts more deeply than words can express.
Steve, Wendi, Chris and Simon would now like to share some of their recollections about our extraordinary mother.
Written by Sue Muir in August 2015, augmented with pictures and last updated 2 September 2025