Catherine M Somma

Catherine M. Somma beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin and friend;
Catherine (Cathy) M. Somma of David Drive, Pelham, NH passed away suddenly on May 26 2021.
Born on June 14 1950, she grew up on Underhill Avenue in Brooklyn, NY in a multi-generational household, and attended PS9 and Saint Saviour High School.
As a young adult she studied for one year at Hunter College in NYC, and attended Woodstock - 3 Days of Peace & Music in 1969 before moving north to attend the experimental Franconia College in Franconia, NH. There she met her husband of 41 years, David J. Claypool in 1970; they were partners in life and best friends ever since.
She received her BA in Education in 1972 from Franconia College and Master's in Education from Goddard College in 1974.
Cathy was an elementary school teacher in the Salem NH School District from 1972 until 2008, teaching at Walter F. Haigh School and William T. Barron Elementary School, where her passion for education impacted generations of children and their families. In 1985 her and David welcomed their first child, Mollie, and in 1987, their second child Emily.  
A force of generosity, care and pragmatism, Cathy was an active member of her community. She was a member of the National Education Association, and volunteered with Friends of the Library of Pelham, NH (FLIP), Pelham NH Council on Aging, the Pelham, NH Conservation Commission, and NH Retired Educators Association. Cathy’s love for learning, nature, travel, and reading took her to many places around the world; in recent years she travelled to Labrador and Newfoundland and across Europe with David. Her innate respect for people and their different cultures, paired with her wide breadth of knowledge and experiences meant those she met felt safe, cared for, and included. For this, she was so loved.
She is survived by her husband David J. Claypool of Pelham, NH; daughter Mollie Claypool-Glass, son-in-law Arran Claypool-Glass and grandchild Archer Claypool-Glass of Bristol, UK; daughter Emily Claypool and son-in-law Ryan Clemens of Pelham, NH; brother Gregory Somma and sister-in-law Marie Somma (m. Sorace) of Stony Brook, NY; brother Robert Somma and sister-in-law Wendy Thaxter of Newbury, MA; cousin Neil Louison and his partner Kit Raseman of Stony Brook, NY, along with cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother Juliette Somma (m. Parisi) and father Louis Somma.  
To celebrate Cathy’s life the family welcomes those who knew her to join them for her Memorial Visitation at the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME 11 NASHUA RD. in PELHAM on Monday June 7, 2021 from 3 to 7 P.M. and for a Memorial Service at HOBBS COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER, 8 Nashua Road, Pelham NH on Tuesday June 8th 2021 at 3:00 o'clock. In memory of Cathy, the family requests that anyone that is not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 wears a mask at her wake and services in order to protect vulnerable members of her family. E-condolences at www.pelhamfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who are able make a donation to Friends of the Library of Pelham (FLIP) or Pelham Council on Aging. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (603) 635-3333. 

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