Claire Phyllis Roz, 84, of Park Beach Drive, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2026, surrounded by her loving family after a courageous 34-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

She was born on November 27, 1941, and adopted at the age of five by Clyde and Blanche Saunders. Claire attended Edgewood High School and obtained her GED and went on to earn her Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees in Nursing degrees from Harford Community College, Notre Dame of Maryland, and the University of Maryland, respectively. She also worked at Bata Shoe and Perry Point Hospital prior to becoming a Registered Nurse. Claire built a distinguished career at Johns Hopkins, ultimately serving as the Associate Director of Nursing for Neuroscience and Psychiatry. She was admired by colleagues as a gifted leader, mentor, and advocate.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Claire was known for her warmth and caring personality. Following her retirement in 2006, Claire served at Upper Chesapeake as a volunteer for nearly a decade. In 2013 she was recognized as one of Harford’s Best for her dedication to her community. She also cherished hosting an annual spring brunch for the ladies of Park Beach Drive, a tradition she maintained for many years.

Claire and her husband, Ron, shared 49 years of marriage and, together with their former spouses (Carl Shupe (deceased) and Leona Shaw) created a loving and uniquely blended family. She is survived by her children Laurie (Tom Maddox), Karen (Fred Hauck), and Michael (Cora Bowers); grandchildren Michelle, Kori, Maggie, Ryan, Amy, and Amanda; and nine great-grandchildren.

Despite her battle with Parkinson’s, Claire never let the disease define her. She was a woman of many talents. An excellent seamstress, she would spend hours in fabric shops selecting patterns and fabric to lovingly craft clothing for her family. She was also a tireless shopper, known for marathon shopping sprees in Hecht’s, Macy’s, Sears, and JC Penny’s, with her wallet jammed full of receipts that she would painstakingly search through to find the one needed to return an item or an armful. She was an avid gardener, loved to get her hands in the dirt and cultivated beautiful flowerbeds each spring. She loved craft shows and was a gifted craftswoman. She and her dear friends, Mary Rose and Shelley DeBord, would arrive early to the shows to get a first look at new creations. Her meticulously crafted (front and back) cross-stitch projects were treasured gifts that sometimes took more than a year to complete. She also had an affinity for porcelain dolls that she carefully painted and crafted the outfits.

Claire and Ron fulfilled their shared dream of living on the water and traveled the world together, creating cherished memories of Egypt, Germany, Italy, and beyond.

A memorial service to celebrate Claire’s life will be held on February 7, 2026, at McComas Funeral Home in Abingdon at 3 pm; meeting with the family is from 1-3 pm. This will be followed by a celebration of life at the Elks Lodge in Abingdon. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the University of Maryland Parkinson’s Movement Disorder’s Fund, a cause close to Claire’s heart. Please make checks payable to UMBF, Inc. in memory of Claire Roz. Please send your check to: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Office of Development attn.: Traci Morgan 31 S. Greene Street, Third Floor Baltimore, MD 21201. Alternatively, you may also make a gift by calling the Office of Development at 410.706.8503 or online by clicking “Give” at med school.maryland.edu.