Rochester, New York – Passed away peacefully with her family at her side on June 5, 2019 at 89 years young. Predeceased by her parents, Jenny and Fred Van Sickle, her two sisters, Elizabeth and Dorcas; a niece, Esther; her son-in-law, Wayne Romano, and all of her husbands!
Clara is survived by her daughter, Janet Romano of Gates; her son, Edward S. Jones (Kim) of Frederick, MD; a granddaughter and 1 great-granddaughter, of Silver Springs, MD. Clara was born in Providence, R.I. Her father was an (Free Methodist) Evangelist who built many churches in Massachusetts. Then they moved to Culpepper, VA, where Clara recalled many happy childhood memories. From there the family moved and settled in Rockville, MD and put down roots! Her three nieces and a nephew were born and raised in Rockville.
Some people may remember that Clara worked at Dairy Lea Dairy. That was where she befriended Rosario “Hogan” Romano… from that connection the Romano’s became the large, loving family that Janet married into. She then gained 4 more grandchildren and 10 more great grandchildren! (Her Rochester great-grandchildren loved calling her “Gramma-Great”!)
Clara had an entrepreneurial spirit. At one time she owned and operated a Security Guard business by the name Van Guard Security, where she used her previous experience working at Doyle Detective Agency to model her own company. (One of her employees became a fast family friend and is now working for the RPD!)
After many profitable years of this, she became a cab driver at the Rochester International Airport – one of the few women to drive a cab during that time! She began to have repeat customers who called ahead to reserve their transportation in her immaculate Cadillac!!
Being a “people person” all her life, she loved to tell stories and jokes, and be the center of entertainment! She could play “boogie-woogie” music on the piano, organ or keyboard – all by ear. She and some friends used to take that her keyboard to various hospitals and nursing facilities to sing and minister to “shut-ins”. It was one of her favorite things to do to “give back”.
Her family will receive friends Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 7 pm at Open Door Baptist Church, 350 Scottsville-Chili Rd.; Churchville, NY 14428.