Helen Clark

January 14, 1930 -April 4, 2022

Helen Sylvia Mercedes Mack Clark was born January 14, 1930 in Cleveland Ohio. She was a fraternal twin to Doris Carmen Mae Mack (Frazier), and they had 8 other siblings.

Her father, Alfred Sydney Mack, was born in 1890 in Kingston, British West Indies, Jamaica. He immigrated in 1922 from Cuba after living there for 3 years and in Panama for 8 years where he honed his craft as a tailor. He met Helen’s mother Loretta Facey Mack, in Cuba. Her mother was born in St Elizabeth’s Parrish, British West Indies, Jamaica in 1899. Helen inherited her fashion sense of style and fabric knowledge from her father with whom she remained close throughout her life and her mother who was a dressmaker.

Helen and her siblings grew up in challenging times, during the depression and foster homes after their mother passed in 1939. She was fostered by the Dr. Youngblood family, the Cummings and the Jones family. Fortunately, her brothers and sisters stayed close during these times.

She graduated from John Adams High School in January 1950. She was a pre-school teacher for over 50 years and received that education at Cuyahoga Community College.

She was also a certified nursing assistant, a bookkeeper at Mercury Model, a sewing machine operator at Dalton & Co knits, and in her 20s she was a salad girl at Bates Restaurant, which was located across the street from Cleveland Clinic, In her teenage years she was an elevator operator at the Bolton Hotel.

She raised her children as long time members of St Andrew’s Episcopal Church and she later attended Mt. Zion Congregational Church and St Dominics Catholic Church. She always had a guiding hand in keeping them on course. She was married to Celotes Clark for 21 years.

Her progressive illness did not define her nor invoke self pity. She continued to enjoy her life with assistance. She was humorous with her one liners that were always on point, just like her favorite TV show Golden Girls.

She traveled to Nashville, Chautauqua, Buffalo, NYC with twin Doris, and in her 70s & 80s to Las Vegas, Hilton head and Florida. She loved Disney and the beaches of Sarasota.

After asking Cynthia multiple times “when are we moving to Florida,” in 2017 she was able to enjoy the sunshine and gulf breeze she so loved in her final years.

Even as a child she showed great strength, and showed that determination and courage to the end. She leaves behind her daughters, Celeste Alston, and Cynthia Clark, granddaughter Courtney Arrington-Baldwin (Donnell), brother Simon Mack, sister Loretta Blackmon and a host of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased in death by her brothers Herbert Mack, William Mack, and Harold Mack and sisters Amy Mack, Doris Frazier, Grace Hairston, and Florence Soden.

A graveside service will be held Saturday 11:00 AM, May 28, 2022 at Lake View Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland Ohio 44106.

Please arrive at the Mayfield Gate at 10:30am to be escorted to Section 41 for the service.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsrobartsfuneralhome.com for the Clark family.