Claire Barancik Obituary

Barancik, Claire

Claire Barancik (aka Claire Y. Holland), devoted mother and wife, passed away on December, 23, 2021 due to complications from breast cancer. She was 88 years old, living in Chicago with her husband Richard Barancik. Claire was born August 31, 1933 to Walter and Louise Youngren on the south side of Chicago. She graduated from Hyde Park High School and later attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her sister, Lucille predeceased her. Claire adored her parents, describing them as "love birds" and subsequently, family meant everything to her. Claire often said she had four wonderful lives. She lost two husbands to cancer, Allan Brown and Bud "B.C." Holland, but she didn't let that or any other tragedy in her life stop her from continuing to make all those around her very happy. She had an indomitable spirit and led many museum fundraisers and charities with great enthusiasm. Throughout the 1980s Claire was very active in the Chicago art world, and in 1977 she was co-chair of The Crystal Ball, the annual fundraiser for Michael Reese Hospital. She was on the board of the Howard Brown Health and AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and the Monterey Symphony. Claire's children, the late Gary, Steve (Amy) and Michelle Handelman (Vincent Baker) brought her much joy, as well as her grandchildren, Jon, David (Adrienne), Phoebe and Russell Handelman, and great-grandchildren, Amelia and Thomas Handelman, and step-children Robert (Amy Blake), Michael, Cathy Graham, Jill (Michael O'Briant) and Ellen Barancik, Bradley and Glenn (Michelle) Holland, Lori, Cindy, and Patti Leigh Brown. We would like to thank Claire's care team for their loving dedication: Ponciana Wilson, Mona Del, Regina Portugal, Roselle Impe, Jade Santiago, and Andie Tumbali. Due to the pandemic there will not be a public memorial service. Donations in her name can be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation https://www.bcrf.org . She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

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