Clara T. Walsh, of Ocala, Florida (formerly of Yonkers), died peacefully at the age of 107 on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at the Lifecare Center of Ocala, where she had resided for the past six years. The oldest of ten children, she was born in Yonkers on July 23, 1911, to Peter F. and Clara (Quevedo) Walsh. Clara was a former parishioner of the Monastery Church of the Sacred Heart for more than eighty years, and attended Sacred Heart School. As a young girl, accompanied by her parents, she was present for the laying of the cornerstone of the existing Church circa 1913. Following her graduation from High School in 1928, she found employment with New York Telephone, which was later incorporated by AT&T, as a local and long distance operator. She retired from AT&T in 1976. During World War ll, she worked to help the War effort for more than four months as a long distance operator in a defense-related phone installation in Washington, D.C.
For many years, Clara was very active in the community life of Sacred Heart Parish, serving on numerous committees, fundraisers and social events. She was particularly involved with the Capuchin Mission Association. She was tireless in raising awareness and donations of clothing and money for the Friars’ apostolic work in Nicaragua and Honduras, where her younger brother, Fr. Casimir O.F.M. Cap., toiled as a missionary for over fifty years. Clara loved to sew, bake, garden and play the piano and sing with her many nieces and nephews. She also volunteered with the Girl Scouts, and for six years at Yonkers General Hospital with the Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Program.
Clara moved from Yonkers to Ocala, Florida in 1993 to live with her sister, Marguerite. She loved her large family, although spread out over the U.S. and Canada. She stayed in close touch with many of them with her handwritten letters and cards, phone calls and even the occasional Skype session. She was an active member of the Ocala chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America Life Members Club. She also was an active participant for many years in Our Lady of the Spring Parish in Ocala. She also derived comfort and fellowship from Blessed Trinity Church while a resident of the Lifecare Center.
Clara was predeceased by one step-sister, Marion Patterson, sisters Cecelia Fox, Gertrude Coady, and Theresa Morganthaler, and brothers Joseph (Fr. Casimir O.F.M. Cap.), Peter, John, Francis and James Walsh.
The entire Walsh family would like to express our gratitude to the staff at the Lifecare Center of Ocala for the compassionate and extraordinary care provided to Clara over the past six plus years, especially during her transitioning the past several months. We also want to thank the Hospice staff who had been coming in to provide additional care for her during her final two months. A special thank you is extended to Clara’s devoted friend, Dora Toombs, for her long term commitment and dedication to visiting and advocating for Clara while at the Lifecare Center.
Visiting hours will be at the Whalen & Ball Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 23rd from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian burial will follow at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Capuchin Mission Association, c/o 110 Shonnard Place, Yonkers, N.Y. 10703.
Whalen and Ball Funeral Home
168 Park Avenue
Yonkers, N.Y. 10703
(914) 965-5488
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