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Clara Archibald Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Clara Archibald
Helen Whalen
November 1, 2008
My Sister Clara Dobroslavich Archibald.
Clara or Vara as I called her when I was a child was everything a sister could be. She was there for me in times of need and would always give me good advice if I asked her for it. I loved her and she was my role model when I was growing up. Beautiful, kind, warm, sweet natured, generous and hard working all describes her. Clara had a knack for making me feel special and I loved her for it. During the depression she and our sister Fran always bought us, my brothers and sisters a gift so there would be something under the tree. Clara and Fran were always together. She took over as mother when their mother died and took care of her siblings. One Christmas, I remember in 1938 or 39, she dressed up as Santa Claus and came to the door with a sack of gifts. We were amazed that Santa was real. Only Clara could pull this off.
As a child I would wait at the window for her to get off the bus when she came home from work. The bus would stop at the door and I would start screaming Vara, Vara’s home. The first thing she did when she came in the house was to pick me up and kiss me. She was love. When Clara was around love filled the room. On her only days off, she would take my brother and me out. She took us to movies, fireworks, Palisade Park and the 1939 New York World’s Fair. I remember the day she got her first car. It was about a 1935 Ford convertible and she took us for a ride. I remember she went down a one way street the wrong way and everyone yelled at us. She just laughed it off. That was the beginning of Sunday drives for us. She could have been out with friends but no she used her day off taking her sisters and brothers out.
The first movie she and Fran took me to was Captain Courageous. I remember waiting in line at the Oritani Theater to see the Wizard of Oz and later Gone with Wind. Clara had taken us in her old jalopy.
When she got married she still included me in her life. When Archie worked the night shift during the war I would sleep over on the living room couch. I remember coming home from school and her kitchen would have the wonderful aromas of dinner cooking and the smell of fresh air as she ironed clothes and listened to soap operas on the radio, “Just Plain Bill and Stella Dallas.” It seemed to me that Clara could do anything. Her home was always warm and inviting and she made everyone welcome. On Sunday nights Clara, Archie, Fran and Marie Hess would take me bowling with them at the Windsor Bowling Alley in Westwood. They taught me how to bowl but for some reason their passion for bowling never rubbed off on me. All of them were great bowlers.
One day she told me a big secret. She was going to have a baby. I was thrilled, especially since the baby would be born near my birthday. On September 6th the baby came. She missed my birthday by one day but I still considered her my present. She was named Ellen Louise and became the apple of my eye. All my school mates had to hear all about the new baby. Everyone called me Auntie Helen. I was so proud. Everything the baby did was amazing. If she smiled my friends heard about it. Somehow Ellen received the nickname” Pookey.” It was piece of equipment Archie used at Bendix.
When I got married Clara and Fran went into New York City with me to pick out my wedding dress and when the time came they cooked a wonderful dinner for my wedding reception. Clara welcomed my husband Ed into the family circle and he became her staunch admirer. She was a wonderful Aunt to my children and even though there were six she never forgot their birthday’s and always had a gift for them at Christmas. A highlight of their lives was Christmas nights at her home, with Archie playing the piano, everyone singing and Charlie Keil dancing. Turkey sandwiches and pumpkin pie always tasted better at Clara’s.
When she and Archie built their swimming pool she always welcomed us. If I felt I was intruding and didn’t show up to go swimming, she would call and tell me to pack up the kids and come over and she always had lemonade and cookies ready.
She loved her family, her dogs and cats, her garden and bowling. She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved Hank and of course her Elly Lou. Clara was a wonderful sister. A one-of-a-kind, no other like her. She will be missed.
Dottie & Reggie Bragg
October 31, 2008
Ellen, Hank and Family,
To let you know our deepest sympathies are with you in your time of sorrow. I didn't know Clara well but from what I knew of her she was a lovely woman. She lived a long and fruitful life and she has many wonderful people who would not be where they are if not for her. Cherish her memories and be glad for her that she has gone on to a place where she will no longer have to experience the pain. Know that she is still there looking down upon all of us and feel her love from afar.
Kathleen Whalen
October 29, 2008
My Aunt Clara was a wonderful Aunt. She always had a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face, and she was full of warmth.
Many of my favorite childhood memories are of her beautiful home and the family gatherings where there was always lots of laughter.
We were always welcomed to go over to swim in the pool. Afterwards, we would sit in the shade of her porch and she would serve us lemonade and cinnamon toast. I loved her flower gardens and somemtimes I'd feel really special when she would take me inside the greenhouse to show me the plants there. To this day, geraniums and their scent remind me of my Aunt Clara and I always make a point to buy them every summer.
On Christmas night my family would always visit with Aunt Clara, Uncle Harold, and Ellie, and Aunt Fannie, Uncle Charlie, and Butchie. Aunt Clara and Aunt Fannie were always together. It would be Christmas "morning" all over again opening their generous gifts. They both seemed to have cornered the market on laughter, which is the soundtrack of much of my childhood. What a wonderful gift to receive from your aunts! Later as an adult, each year as I wrote out my Christmas cards to Aunt Clara and Aunt Fanny, I would always remember the pleasant memories of Christmas past. While they are both sorely missed, I imagine them now together again laughing up a storm and everyone in Heaven is wondering just what is so funny!
Even in later years, My Aunt Clara was thoughtful and generous as I got married and had my sons, Marc and Andrew. Over the years whenever I saw her, I was always struck by her genuine interest in what was going on in my life, my sons' lives, and my brothers' and sister's lives and families. I saw Aunt Clara a few days before she passed and it was difficult at times to understand what she was saying. At one point, I took a guess that she was asking about everyone, and I began telling her that everyone was doing well and she stopped speaking and began to smile. Even at the very end of her life, her concern and love was for others.
Aunt Clara was truly the matriarch of the Dobroslavich family, a gracious woman to admire and love. I know her presence, her laughter and smile, her love and genorosity, will always be with all of us.
Joan E (Manheimer) & Fred Paff
October 28, 2008
Dear Ellen, Hank, Deb & Steven,
Memories of your Mom and your family when we were little in River Vale are among the best a kid could have, and I thank "Mrs. A" for her patience, kindness & love she gave so generously to me. I thank God we reconnected and I was able to spend some wonderful hours reminising with her, during our last visit she remarked how nice it was she could see the two of us on your patio talking away the hours just like we did when we were little growing into our teenage years.
I thank you for sharing her with all of us, her kindness, generousity and love live on in you and your family.
Our prayers are with you, as go on without her, but you are blessed with many wonderful memories.
All our love,
Teresa Cuesta
October 23, 2008
Dear Debbie & Family~
Your Grandma was a wonderful woman. I will always remember her cooking steaks for Snuffy, as well as other gourmet treats for various pooches that had entered her life. Always welcoming & kind, she was a positive influence on our childhood. We are so very sorry for your loss.
Kris Zuck Crimaldi
October 22, 2008
Dear Debbi and gang,
While the years have made our visits less frequent they are no less cherished. I will never forget how excited Gram was to see me at your wedding to Tom; I was very touched by her enthusiam at seeing this "blast from the past." I have fond memories of time spent in your home, with both your grandparents and the pooches. At last, they are together again. Gram is not gone, only a little further away now. May your family remember all the joy in her life and none of the sadness of her passing.
Much love,
Kris Zuck
Aunt Clara
Charles Keil
October 21, 2008
Clara Archibald
Not only was Clara my godmother and very special aunt, she was like a second mother to me. She and Frances, my mother, were very close. It seems that our families were always together. Some of my earliest memories are of being in the living room of the big old house in River Vale on Sunday evenings, watching Ed Sullivan and Steve Allen, and later, Perry Mason, on the little black and white TV screen. I also remember fondly the Sunday evenings at the house on Fairway Terrace, watching the Wonderful World of Disney and Bonanza on the new color TV. And of course the football games on Thanksgiving and New Years Day, and the Rose Parade.
The memories seem endless. I remember the swimming pool, the cook outs with steak, fresh corn and tomatoes from the garden, and toasting marshmallows over the fire in the fireplace. And I remember the greenhouse and the geraniums. Clara taught me how to take cuttings from the geraniums (it seemed like hundreds of geraniums), and making transplants, breaking the old clay flower pots and putting the broken pieces into the bottoms of the new pots for drainage.
And I remember the evenings spent on the front porch of the old house, looking out over the large front lawn, counting the few cars that passed by and identifying their make and model (all American in those days, so it was fairly easy). I remember playing word games and “I see something”, listening to the stories and the jokes.
I remember the warmth and glow, the love, and the joy of the holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, in the large dining room, with the large bay window where the Christmas tree stood. We gathered around the large dining table to enjoy the endless food and laughter.
Sometimes after dinner we would wind up in the kitchen where the warmth of the cooking and the smells of the food would still linger. We would play cards, or work on the “Little Fooler” word puzzle from the Daily News. Or we would just sit and talk and laugh.
And Clara was always at the heart of these family gatherings, making sure that everyone had enough to eat, laughing and loving, making warm memories that would last a lifetime. And even over the last few years, she was always worried about mom and me. When mom got sick she worried that she wasn’t eating. When mom passed away, Clara was worried about how I was doing and if I was eating properly. Even with all of her own health problems, she was more concerned about us, her family. We miss her so much, and things won’t be the same, but she will be with us, always in our hearts and memories forever.
Anna Buntin
October 18, 2008
Dear Ellen, Hank, Steve and Debbie: Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Clara will live on in our hearts forever. She was a wonderful lady and I'm so very glad I was able to see her after so many years. We had lost contact and when we were together for such a short time, it was like we were never apart. My father, her mother's brother, lived with them when he came to the U.S. in Dec. 1912 at the age of 15. Clara talked about him and how much she loved her Uncle Nick. My only regret is that I haven't been able to visit her again and that my family didn't have an opportunity to meet with her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always. With Love, Anna Violet (Zec) Buntin & family
David Whalen
October 16, 2008
Ellie, Hank, Debbie and Steven
Some of my fondest childhood memories are the Christmas evening visits at Aunt Clara’s house. Through child eyes I knew I was welcomed and enjoyed sharing the holiday together. Our love lost is heavens gain.
Kristina Ehlers
October 14, 2008
Dear Ellen, Hank, Steve, and Deb,
May god be with you during this time, Clara will be missed she was a wonderful person and I feel lucky just to have known her. As Jenna said to me when I told her that she passed, "She is with the angels now and will always look over you and protect you"!!!!
Lucille & Andy Bastanza
October 12, 2008
Dear Ellen, Hank and fmily,
You have our sincere condolences on
the loss of your Mom. She was a
wonderful, kind person, and we were
blessed to have known her
Paula Marcoux
October 12, 2008
Dear Hank & Ellen,
Clara was a wonderful person. We will miss her alot. We will think of her ever time we vist and every holiday that we have spent will her.
Love
Paula & CLay
Barbara & Ed Krauss (Ranges)
October 10, 2008
To Ellen, Hank and family,
As childhood friends, you and I have shared many wonderful times together, and many of those included your mom, Clara. She was like another mother to me. I can still remember going to your house in River Vale after school and Clara would be in the kitchen baking cookies and always had an apron on! She was soft spoken and always so sweet to me as a child. It was so great to see her again in 2005 after so many years. She will forever remain in my heart.
Grace Dobroslavic
October 10, 2008
Dear Ellen,
You had a special mother. May peace and rest now be with her. Her kindly thoughts and deeds will live on. It is not death--it is immortality.
Love,
Aunt G.
Donna Snell
October 9, 2008
Ellen, Hank and family,
John and I extend our deepest sympathy. Your mom was an amazing woman and our hearts go out to you. I know you will miss her dearly. Love, Donna & John
Beth Zomer
October 8, 2008
Dear The Marcoux Family,
You have all been in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Grandma was always like my Grandma to me. many great memories of her and grandpa. I will miss her dearly.
Love Always, Beth
Brenda Yanni
October 7, 2008
Ellen, Hank, Helen and all Clara's family,
Ellen, it was you who taught me that these guest books exist, when Dan died so this message is due to your knowledge of these things.
I was so sad to hear for Clara's passing. I know you will be told (and it is true) that she led a long and wonderful life but that does not mean we cannot and should not mourn her passing. She was such a wonderful, vibrant woman and I am so blessed to have had a chance to get to know her as an adult.
I know my mother considered Clara her best friend and perhaps they are together again, bowling and listening to Harold play the piano. Still, I wish they were all here with us and that we could all enjoy their stories and their fun once again.
I am so glad Clara got to meet and to know Dan as well. He loved her and all of you!
Much love,
Brenda
Joanne Mockus Leach
October 7, 2008
Dear Ellen:
Sharing your sorrow in the loss of one so dear, and sending deepest sympathy. I hope that in your time of sorrow may it ease your pain to know that others are thinking of you.
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