Frank N. Clements

Celebrating the Life of Frank Clements 

On Monday, July 27, 2020, Frank Clements, loving husband of 68 years, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, was called to Heaven at age 90.

Frank was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, on September 22, 1929, to William and Elsie (Comeau) Clements. He knew he would marry his lifelong sweetheart Helen (Bowers) the day that he met her and, as luck would have it, he later became her next-door neighbor. They were married on May 10, 1952. 

While Frank worked for the Mass Electric in Lynn, the couple moved to their forever home in Nahant, where they raised their eight children.  Frank worked for Mass Electric for 36 years, 

Frank had one other lifelong love, and that was building models. He started building models at just ten years old, and later went on to help found the USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild in 1979, serving as Model Ship Coordinator until the day he died.

Frank spent 40 years volunteering in the USS Constitution Museum’s model shop, where guild members demonstrated their craft for visitors. His grandchildren were blessed to witness his master craft at his workshop at home. Wherever Frank was, you could expect a pair of protective eye goggles to be waiting nearby. And the scent of freshly cut wood was never too far behind.  Throughout his long life, Frank built more than 45 ship models, winning more than a dozen awards for his attention to detail and historical accuracy. Literally bringing history to life, he said he knew a model was complete when he could see the little men  running around on the deck. 

Frank was a devout Catholic and an active member of St. Mary’s Parish in Lynn, MA. He and Helen spent 25 years volunteering their services to the food pantry with Father Mike. 

Frank was preceded in death by his father, William, his mother, Elsie, his brother, William, and his sister, Felice. He is survived by his wife Helen, his eight children John, Bill, Jim, Tom, Rick, Mary Theresa, Ann Marie and Rosemarie and their spouses, his sister Millie, fifteen grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation in Frank’s name to the U.S.S. Constitution Museum, Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA 02129 www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be determined. 

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