Clare Marie Leavitt, age 69, of Oak Park, Illinois, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born May 8, 1956, in Cheverly, Maryland, Clare was one of seven children of Thomas and Elizabeth Leavitt. She spent her childhood living in several different states, which served to foster an adaptability and warmth that would characterize her life.

At the age of 16, Clare was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a challenge she met with discipline, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to caring for herself and others. She carried that same strength into every stage of her life.

She graduated from Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Connecticut, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design from Virginia Tech. Clare began her career in retail management with Rich's Department Store in Atlanta, Georgia before joining Georgia-Pacific, where she rose to the role of Business Development Manager and Business Analyst. A work assignment brought her to Chicago, a city she quickly grew to love and where she made her home.

After leaving the corporate world, Clare pursued work aligned with her values. She served as a clothing consultant with Doncaster & Tanner, became the first manager of the 10,000 Villages store in Oak Park, and later worked as a Transition Advocate with Caring Transitions of Chicago, helping families navigate major life changes.  Clare also worked part-time for the City of Elmhurst, Illinois, enjoying the work and the people.

Clare was deeply committed to service. She was active at St. Edmund Catholic Church, served for many years on her condominium association board, and most recently coordinated the clothing warehouse for the Migrant Ministry of the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park, where her organizational skill and generosity left a lasting impact.

Clare will be remembered for her kindness, patience, creativity, and genuine interest in others.  She had a passion for design, sewing, and tailoring.  She loved music, dogs, time with family and friends, quiet moments shared over simple meals, a good laugh, and vacations spent at the beach.

Clare leaves behind a wide circle of family and friends who will miss her deeply. She will be remembered as a vibrant, gentle soul whose life was defined by service, humility, and love. May she rest in eternal peace.

Clare is survived by her mother Elizabeth Canty Leavitt, sister Ann Evans (Charles), and brothers Tom (Beth), John, Paul, and Mark (Erin).  She was also proud aunt to eight nieces and nephews -Kendra Evans, Julie Leavitt Jorgenson (Michael), Madeline Leavitt, Kira Leavitt, Nick Leavitt, Austin Leavitt, Cory Evans (Kathryn), and Graham Leavitt - and great-aunt to Parker Jorgenson. Clare was preceded in death by her older sister Jean Frances Leavitt and her father Thomas William Leavitt.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St.Jude Catholic Church, 705 Spalding Dr., Sandy Springs, GA 30328, with a luncheon to follow. Interment will take place at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mt. Vernon Hwy NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.

A memorial service will be held at St. Edmund's Catholic Church, 188 Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Catholic Parishes of Oak Park Migrant Ministry at St. Catherine-St. Lucy & St. Giles Parish, 1025 Columbian, Oak Park, IL 60302 (Make checks payable to St. Giles and indicate for Migrant Ministry on the memo line.) or to Breakthrough T1D (formally JDRF), PO Box 5021, Hagerstown MD 21741-5021.