Clare Marie Leavitt, 69, of Oak Park, died peacefully on Dec. 22, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on May 8, 1956, in Cheverly, Maryland, she was one of seven children of Thomas and Elizabeth Leavitt. She spent her childhood living in several different states, which served to foster the 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. She 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, 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. She also worked part-time for Elmhurst.
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.
She had a passion for design, sewing, and tailoring, loved music, dogs, time with family and friends, quiet moments shared over simple meals, a good laugh, and vacations spent at the beach.
Clare is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Canty Leavitt; her sister Ann Evans (Charles), and brothers Tom (Beth), John, Paul, and Mark (Erin); eight nieces and nephews, Kendra Evans, Julie Leavitt Jorgenson (Michael), Madeline Leavitt, Kira Leavitt, Nick Leavitt, Austin Leavitt, Cory Evans (Kathryn), and Graham Leavitt; great-aunt to Parker Jorgenson; and was preceded in death by her older sister, Jean Frances Leavitt and her father, Thomas William Leavitt.
