Claudia Kramer Bissett of Mirror Lake, NH passed away suddenly on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at her home. She was born on June 23, 1953 in Camden, NJ daughter of the late William D. and Shirley R. (Buswell) Kramer. Claudia graduated from High School in Groton, CT, and earned a BA in German Education from the University of Conn. She met her future husband at UCONN and married after graduation. She also attended Drexel University earning an MA in Library Science, and the University of Lowell (now UMASS Lowell) earning a BA and MA in Musicology.

Claudia had two older sisters: Christine Kramer (deceased) and Cheryl Kramer Perdue of Christiansburg, VA. Claudia leaves behind her husband Thomas, her two sons Ethan and Kyle, her daughter in-law Louisa (Ethan’s wife) and her grandson Zachary (who calls her MeMaw).

Claudia had three passions in life; raising her family (especially her grandson), organizing libraries, and playing flute music. Over the years, Claudia worked in many different libraries throughout New England as she followed her husband’s career moves. A sampling of the libraries include:

New England Conservatory Music Library – Technical Services Librarian

University of Rhode Island Music Library - Coordinator of Music Resources & Facilities

McDowell Colony Library – Librarian and Technical Services

St. Anselm College – Head of Cataloguing

Claudia also used her library skills to organize the following libraries on a volunteer basis:

Nashoba Valley Concert Band music collection

Hollis Town Band music collection

Nashua Flute Choir / New England Flute Orchestra music collection

Cate Park Band music collection

All Saints Episcopal Church reading library

Claudia was a flutist. She was a very good flutist. Over the years she played in many musical groups. Over her lifetime she has owned 5 different C flutes from student models all the way up to a professional model. She also developed a passion for playing the family of flutes including a contrabass flute, a bass flute, an alto flute, the C flute, and the piccolo. She owned all of those instruments except for the contrabass flute. Recently she had the pleasure of acquiring and playing a professional quality piccolo. Her passion for flute resulted in her playing for concert bands, symphonies, flute orchestras, musicals, and churches throughout New England. Some of the organizations she played for include:

Nashua Flute Choir / New England Flute Orchestra

American Band (RI)

Concord Band (MA)

Hollis Town Band

Townsend Military Band

Sudbury Savoyards - Gilbert and Sullivan

Wolfeboro Village Players musicals

Kingswood Highschool musicals

Strafford Wind Symphony

Claudia also arranged music for flute choirs and bands.  A partial list of her publications include:

Lassus Trombone

Shenandoah

King Cotton March

Mock Morris

In Dulci Jublio

Them Basses

Skye Boat Song

The Aquarium from The Carnival of the Animals

From the Depths

Wedding Day at Troldhaugen

I’ll Love My Love

St. Anthony’s Sermon of the Fishes

I Wonder As I Wander

Funiculi Funicula

Claudia loved her life with Tom at Mirror Lake. She and Tom enjoyed kayaking, hiking and ice skating. They played music together in the local bands and dramatic productions. In their cozy home, she baked countless loaves of bread and warm nourishing meals. She set up pretty gardens. In so many ways, she made their house a home. Claudia also loved the many dogs that came into her life: especially, Blackberry, Moose, and Tootsie. Claudia has left a giant hole in the hearts of all who loved her. She will be sorely missed.

Memorial Service for Claudia will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Wolfeboro, NH at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025. 

Instead of flowers, please consider a donation to the Strafford Wind Symphony Scholarship Fund or to the Cate Park Band. Family and friends are welcome to attend.

www. https://www.straffordwindsymphony.org/scholarship

Cate Park Band: https://www.facebook.com/groups/264972450264010

Cate Park Band contributions can be sent to:

Cate Park Band C/O Tom Bissett

109 Gov. Wentworth Hwy.

Mirror Lake, New Hampshire 03853