Obituary of Clara E. Orsini

Clara Orsini passed away peacefully on Wednesday July 26, 2017.

Clare was raised in Rutherford and loved spending her childhood summers with her McAloan and Smith families in Hunterdon County where she developed lifelong connections with her heritage.  She was a graduate of Rutherford High School.  After completing secretarial school she then worked for the Walter Kidde Co. where she met her future husband Anthony Orsini, who predeceased her in 2012.  They married in 1947 and together they raised five daughters, of whom they were very proud. In 1955 they moved to Wyckoff where Clare volunteered for many organizations:  the Wyckoff Reformed Church, the PTO Economy Shop, Meals on Wheels, an English as a Second Language program, and the Wyckoff Women’s Club, where she was past president and held other officer positions. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

She was a devoted wife and she was the BEST MOM EVER, tirelessly nurturing and lovingly teaching important life values, by example and instruction, to her daughters.  She was cherished by many for the twinkle in her eye, her strength and endurance during challenging times, her sense of humor, and her candid honesty. In later years, her daughters were continually astounded by her remarkable memory, which was usually better than theirs. 

She will be dearly missed by daughters and their husbands: Patricia (Wolfgang) in Oregon, Alice (Hugh) in Oregon, Gini in Massachusetts, Kathy in California, and Susan (Frank) in Georgia, granddaughters Marie, Kristina, Galia, and Alana, and three great grandchildren. In addition she was blessed by wonderful neighbors and dear family friends including Kathie Berger Smythe, Barbara and Steve Caldwell and her many devoted caregivers who enhanced Clare's quality of life in her later years.

A Memorial Service is being planned for October 4, 2017, 11:30 AM at the Wyckoff Reformed Church, 580 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481.  In keeping with Clare’s expressed wishes, please no flowers.