Maryclaire Fair

Maryclaire Carrelli Fair, on June 25, 2024, age 82 of Cherry Hill, NJ. Beloved wife of Bartley Fair. Dear mother of Robert Fair, Scott (Sharon) Fair, Joseph (Lisa) Fair, and Lisa (Keith) Swaney. Mother-in-law to Debra Fair. Loving mom mom of Nicholas Fair, Jake Fair, Abby Swaney, Nate Swaney, Justine Swaney, Max Fair, Chase Fair, Marcus Fair and Austin Im. Cherished sister of the late Justine (Jim) Carrelli-Miller and the late John (Pat) Carrelli. Sister-in-law to several and loving aunt to many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents John and Justine Beck Carrelli. 

Mary was born on February 28, 1942, and grew up in Southwest Philadelphia. She was a straight “A” student and loved singing in the choir. In 1967, she met Bart, and in 1971 they got married. In 2019, their sweet love story was captured by the Cherry Hill Sun (https://thesunpapers.com/2019/02/14/sweetheart-stories-bart-and-mary-fair/). While raising her four children, Mary was a long-term caregiver for her parents and worked as an educational assistant at Thomas Paine Elementary School for 14 years. After retirement, she spent her days babysitting her grandchildren. She was known by many nicknames (Mind, Mindy, Bird, Maryclairefair, Mary,Mare) and also created countless nicknames and phrases for people and places in her life (Farty, Unkie, Bubbas, Scooty, Yopi the Pwon, Pwony, Tootie, Little Bud, Itzie Bitzie, Hansie, “going to Pathy,” “make a Molino,” “get the net,” “hold my glasses,” “take me out to the five foot, Mare,” “Cool it, Aunt Mary,” “I’ll tell you what,” “Oh my goosa, hun”). Besides her family, Mary loved red-eared slider turtles, Wildwood, NJ, and everything about Christmas. She had earrings, shirts, and leggings to represent every holiday and was known to ask her family for their Christmas lists in June. It was not unusual to find her vacuuming at midnight, cleaning everything in sight, writing skits and poetry, or making the best meatballs. If you knew Mary Fair, you loved her.

Relatives and friends of the family will meet for the visitation and funeral on Monday morning, July 15th from 10:00AM to 11:00AM at The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light Church, 402 North Kings Hwy., Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, July 15th at 11:00AM.  In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions in Maryclaire’s memory to the American Cancer Society.  Arrangements by BOCCO FUNERAL HOME, Cherry Hill.