Clara Dorothy Fallon

Clara Dorothy Fallon, 93, of Scranton, died Wednesday after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Donald Fallon, with whom she was married for 61 years before he died in 2012.

Surviving are their daughter, Kathy Fallon of Scranton, and Kathy's dear friend, Bill Weber.

Clara was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, daughter of the late Rev. Anthony Knapik and wife, Irene. She came to Scranton at age 14 when the Rev. Knapik was transferred to be pastor of St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church on Drinker Street in Dunmore. She then attended and graduated from St. Paul's High School in Green Ridge, where she was named most popular in her 1946 graduating class.

She was also preceded in death by her two sisters, Charlotte Boyle and Betty Fitzmaurice, and by Betty's daughter, Gerry Walsh. Clara is survived by Gerry's family and their extended families, with whom she lovingly spent every holiday, special occasion and even just ordinary occasions. She was blessed to love and be loved by family her entire life.

After graduation, she worked at the millinery Hat Bar in the Globe Store. It was there she met Donald, who worked just around the corner at the Scranton Talk.

After Kathy was born, she stayed home to raise her, and indeed was the most loving and dedicated mother there could ever be. When Kathy was grown, Clara returned to the workplace. It would be the Lady Manhattan Shirt Co., where Charlotte and Betty still worked. She started as a tester in the training department and later became personnel manager.

Clara was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church in South Scranton until it closed. She was a lector and a Eucharistic Minister. She helped to run events, and was a dedicated quilter.

Kathy's favorites are the pumpkin quilt and the Santa quilt, both of which she cherishes to this day. When St. John's closed, she became a faithful member of St. Paul of the Cross Parish, under the loving guidance of the Rev. Scott Sterowski.

Clara loved her cats. They loved her and they gave her wonderful companionship.

"The Baby Bomber" and "Bailey" will miss her the most.

She also loved just sitting on the front porch, feeding the birds and watching the world go by.

Clara had many friends whom she cherished, and she was loved universally. She will be missed by them as well.

Clara was also the most loyal, supportive and enthusiastic audience member for every concert in which Kathy and Bill performed. She never missed. By far, her favorites were the summer concerts every Sunday night at Marywood. For 35 years, each concert was followed by a celebratory family house party or, occasionally, a trip to Friendly's for ice cream.

She also loved to travel with Kathy and Bill, especially to Wildwood Crest and Cape May at the Jersey Shore. Summer vacations at Wildwood Crest were very special to Clara. We have stayed at the same apartment, owned by the same family, since 1955. Always good times. Lancaster County was another favorite destination, as was the Washington, D.C., area where they would visit Bill's family.

And one of her greatest pleasures was shopping with Kathy. Anytime, anywhere, it was always great fun to search for treasures together. Shopping will never be the same without her.

Special thanks for the extraordinary care given to Clara by the Hospice of the Sacred Heart.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul of the Cross Parish at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church, 1217 Prospect Ave., Scranton, celebrated by the Rev. Scott Sterowski, pastor, followed by interment at St. Michael's Byzantine Cemetery, Dunmore. Arrangements, Neil W. Regan Funeral Home Inc., 1900 Pittston Ave., Scranton, PA 18505. To email condolences, visit the funeral home website.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 600 Baltimore Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702, to St. Paul of the Cross Parish, 1217 Prospect Ave., Scranton, PA 18505, or to the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, 967 Griffin Pond Road, South Abington Twp., PA 18411, or at ASPCA.org.