Lenore Mae Clery

On Saturday (The Sabbath) December 6, 2025, the Lord peacefully called home Lenore Mae Clery.
LENORE MAE CLERY, born on June 3, 1943, in Goshen, New York, was the beloved daughter of the late Harold Leroy DeGroat, Sr. and Mildred Marie Mitchell-DeGroat.
Lenore devoted many years of her life to care giving. She became a New York State certified Nurse Aide and also completed certifications in Medical Terminology and EKG. Admired for her reliability, compassion, and dedication, she gained extensive experience as a Certified Home Health Aide and Nursing Aide. She also served as an Assistant Store Manager with The Salvation Army in New Paltz, New York.
She completed her schooling and training through the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and Orange-Ulster BOCES, and she continued her studies at Orange County Community College, where she pursued Nursing and Sociology.
Lenore loved attending church whenever she could and shared a deeply personal relationship with the Lord. She was truly one of a kind. Her vibrant personality, boundless compassion, and loving nature left a lasting impression on everyone blessed to know her. Family was at the center of her world. She was kind, giving, protective, and always put her loved ones first.
She enjoyed traveling with her husband, especially on their road trips to Florida to visit family. She loved gospel, country, and Soca music, and the way she danced, especially that unforgettable whine, had everyone else up dancing right along with her. Lenore was an amazing cook and a gifted baker. Her famous mayonnaise cake was out of this world, and anyone who had the pleasure of tasting her dishes knew they were in for something special.
Her singing voice will always be remembered, especially her weekend "wake-up calls," when everyday household items became instruments as she joyfully sang "rise and shine" down the halls. (If you know, you know.)
Lenore was loving, kind, and welcoming to all, but she also didn't bite her tongue for anybody. She stood firmly on her words, always with that signature Lenore flair.
Lenore leaves behind a host of loved ones, family, friends, and all who were blessed to share in her life. Each person who knew her carries their own special memory of her kindness, laughter, and love.
Her warmth, generosity, humor, and joyful spirit will be deeply missed. Her memory will continue to live on in every heart she touched.
Lenore is survived by her loving husband of 33 years, Gratain Clery, Taylors SC; her children, Marie Green, Albany NY and Edward Peterson Jr. (Shawna), Newburgh NY; special bonus children, Chantalay Cain, Albany NY and Shallon Cain; her bestie, Sammie, Taylors SC; her sisters, Bernice Hayes, Newburgh NY and Doris St. Jean (Ben), Lakeland FL; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Lenore reunites in Heaven with her parents and her 10 siblings, Harold, Wilbur, Lawrence, Robert, Lorraine, Blanche, Carol, Pearl, Brenda, and Betty; along with her daughters, Theresa Murphy and Tawana Dunham; her granddaughter, Shondae Peterson; grandsons, Tre'Shon and Dre'Shon Peterson; and great granddaughter, Zamaria Norvill.
A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. from 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown with a funeral service following at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in Mountain View Memorial Park, Travelers Rest, SC.
Family and friends who are unable to attend the service can view the Live Stream by clicking on the "Watch Livestream" button located on the main obituary page.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Lenore with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory."