Obituary for Clara J. DeFelice
Clara J. DeFelice, 87, of
Hurley, and formerly of Ironwood, Mich., died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010, in
Hurley. She was born Dec. 8, 1922, in Ironwood,
daughter of the late Domenic and Mary (D'Angelo) DeFelice, attended Ironwood
schools, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1940. She graduated
from the Kenrotin Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago in early 1944, and
shortly thereafter obtained her license as a registered nurse. Clara served her country in the Army Nurse
Corps from Sept. 1944 to Feb. 1946 in the Western Pacific Campaign during World
War II. Following her honorable discharge as a second lieutenant, she worked as
a nurse in Chicago primarily in the office of Dr. R.M. Potter, a radiologist.
She retired and moved back to Ironwood in 1982. Clara enjoyed people and particularly liked to
play cards, especially smear and bridge. She traveled to Europe a number of
times and lived and worked in France for several years during the early
1960's. Surviving are five nieces and nephews, Mary
Kay (Grant) Seeke, Cheyenne, Wyo., Marlene (David) Adami, Springfield, Ill.,
Dennis (Sarah) DaPra, Spring Arbor, Mich., Raymond DaPra, Ironwood, and David (Patti) Benetti,
Escanaba, Mich.; nine great nieces and nephews; and a special friend and
caregiver, Irene Vuorenmaa, Ironwood. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death
by three sisters, Florence DeFelice, Antoinette Benetti and Mary
DaPra. Out of respect for Clara's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Thursday, Sept. 30, at noon, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood,
with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church, where a flag presentation ceremony will be
accorded by representatives of the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor
Guard. Luncheon will follow in the parish
hall. Private inurnment will be in Riverside
Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church from 11 a.m. until noon on
Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to the Our Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St.,
Ironwood, Mich. 49938. To view Clara's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
Hurley, and formerly of Ironwood, Mich., died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010, in
Hurley. She was born Dec. 8, 1922, in Ironwood,
daughter of the late Domenic and Mary (D'Angelo) DeFelice, attended Ironwood
schools, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1940. She graduated
from the Kenrotin Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago in early 1944, and
shortly thereafter obtained her license as a registered nurse. Clara served her country in the Army Nurse
Corps from Sept. 1944 to Feb. 1946 in the Western Pacific Campaign during World
War II. Following her honorable discharge as a second lieutenant, she worked as
a nurse in Chicago primarily in the office of Dr. R.M. Potter, a radiologist.
She retired and moved back to Ironwood in 1982. Clara enjoyed people and particularly liked to
play cards, especially smear and bridge. She traveled to Europe a number of
times and lived and worked in France for several years during the early
1960's. Surviving are five nieces and nephews, Mary
Kay (Grant) Seeke, Cheyenne, Wyo., Marlene (David) Adami, Springfield, Ill.,
Dennis (Sarah) DaPra, Spring Arbor, Mich., Raymond DaPra, Ironwood, and David (Patti) Benetti,
Escanaba, Mich.; nine great nieces and nephews; and a special friend and
caregiver, Irene Vuorenmaa, Ironwood. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death
by three sisters, Florence DeFelice, Antoinette Benetti and Mary
DaPra. Out of respect for Clara's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Thursday, Sept. 30, at noon, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood,
with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church, where a flag presentation ceremony will be
accorded by representatives of the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor
Guard. Luncheon will follow in the parish
hall. Private inurnment will be in Riverside
Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church from 11 a.m. until noon on
Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to the Our Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St.,
Ironwood, Mich. 49938. To view Clara's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.