Silverman, Claire

Claire Silverman, a woman whose eye for beauty and whose warmth toward everyone she met left an indelible mark on all who knew her, passed away on August 14, 2026 at the age of 94. She was the beloved wife of the late Arthur Silverman for 59 years. For more than fifty years, Claire was the heart and soul of Antique Haven, her beloved shop in historic Pawtuxet, where her extraordinary gift for spotting beauty and history in the smallest of objects became the stuff of local legend. She had a rare talent: an antique savant in the truest sense, able to look at a piece and see not just its worth, but its story. Customers came for the treasures, but they stayed for Claire — her warmth, her stories, and the way she made every person who walked through her door feel like they’d found not just an antique, but a friend. Antique Haven was never simply a business; it was an extension of who Claire was, a place built on curiosity, history, and love. But it was Claire’s gift for people, even more than her gift for antiques, that defined her. She had an uncanny ability to bring out the best in everyone she met — family, friends, and strangers alike. She listened. She encouraged. She believed in people, often before they believed in themselves. Kind-hearted, active, and endlessly warm, Claire moved through life with a generosity of spirit that made the people around her feel steadier, brighter, and more capable simply for having known her. Claire was a former member of Temple Sinai and its sisterhood and a member of the former Temple Beth Am. She was a member of Hadassah and the Antique Association.

Devoted mother of Beth Dodier of Warwick and the late Steven Silverman, whose memory she carried with her always. Dear sister of Shirley Schreiber of Warwick. Beloved grandmother of Jason Dodier and his fiancée, Nima Saleh, and Shelby Guerra and her husband, Mitch, of Coventry. Cherished great-grandmother of Grant and Eleanora, who brought her boundless joy in her later years.

Claire’s legacy lives on in every life she touched — in the treasures she uncovered and passed along, in the shop she built with her own hands and heart, and in the countless people who left her presence feeling a little more seen, a little more valued, and a little more themselves. She will be remembered not only for what she found, but for what she gave: her time, her wisdom, her kindness, and her unwavering belief in the goodness of others.

Services will be held at Lincoln Park Cemetery, 1469 Post Rd., Warwick, in the Priest Chapel, Monday at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to American Parkinsons Association, P.O. Box 41659, Providence, RI 02940. Shiva will be private.

Claire Silverman leaves behind a legacy of love, beauty, and generosity that will endure for generations to come.