Obituary of Rita Clarke

Rita M. Clarke

Rita M. Clarke of Larchmont, NY passed away on February 2 at the age of 87. She had lived in Larchmont for more than 60 years.

She was born in New York City on August 21, 1931, the second daughter of Alois and Anna (nee Boshans) Kohler. She graduated from Port Chester High School.

Mrs. Clarke was predeceased by her husband of more than 60 years, Edward T. Clarke, who passed away on December 30, 2018. They met in 1956 when she was a bookkeeper and he a head teller at the County Trust Company in White Plains, NY.

Mrs. Clarke was a long-time parishioner of Sts. John and Paul Church in Larchmont where she served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for 30 years. She was also active in the parish’s Women’s Guild and in volunteer activities including bringing the Eucharist to residents of local nursing homes. She was a Girl Scout Leader for Troop 246 in the parish school during the 1960s and 1970s.

Rita was accomplished at needlework, including sewing, crocheting, and knitting. She made clothing for her daughters and baptismal gowns for Sts. John and Paul Church. She also loved to tend her rock garden and to cook and bake. Her Thanksgiving dinners for more than 25 relatives are a family legend. She delighted in spending time with her family and in being an active presence in her grandchildren’s lives.

She taught her daughters the importance of family traditions, how to nourish their faith, and how to make all of their favorite family recipes.

She was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Irmgard and Alois Muller of Busenberg, Germany.

Mrs. Clarke is survived by a daughter, Carol Clarke, and granddaughter, Madeleine Beck, of White Plains, NY; a daughter, Kathy Roush, and son-in-law, Bob Roush, of Fairfield, CT and three grandchildren, Christina, Daniel, and Timothy Roush; and a daughter, Nancy Clarke, of Norwalk, CT. She also is survived by twelve nieces and nephews.

Visiting Thursday, February 7th, 4:00 – 7:00 PM at the John J. Fox Funeral Home in Larchmont.  Mass of Christian Burial Friday, February 8th, 10:00 AM at Sts. John & Paul Church in Larchmont. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Valhalla, NY.

Mrs. Clarke was predeceased by her husband of more than 60 years, Edward T. Clarke, who passed away on December 30, 2018. They met in 1956 when she was a bookkeeper and he a head teller at the County Trust Company in White Plains, NY.

Mrs. Clarke was a long-time parishioner of Sts. John and Paul Church in Larchmont where she served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for 30 years. She was also active in the parish’s Women’s Guild and in volunteer activities including bringing the Eucharist to residents of local nursing homes. She was a Girl Scout Leader for Troop 246 in the parish school during the 1960s and 1970s.

Rita was accomplished at needlework, including sewing, crocheting, and knitting. She made clothing for her daughters and baptismal gowns for Sts. John and Paul Church. She also loved to tend her rock garden and to cook and bake. Her Thanksgiving dinners for more than 25 relatives are a family legend. She delighted in spending time with her family and in being an active presence in her grandchildren’s lives.

She taught her daughters the importance of family traditions, how to nourish their faith, and how to make all of their favorite family recipes.

She was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Irmgard and Alois Muller of Busenberg, Germany.

Mrs. Clarke is survived by a daughter, Carol Clarke, and granddaughter, Madeleine Beck, of White Plains, NY; a daughter, Kathy Roush, and son-in-law, Bob Roush, of Fairfield, CT and three grandchildren, Christina, Daniel, and Timothy Roush; and a daughter, Nancy Clarke, of Norwalk, CT. She also is survived by twelve nieces and nephews.

Visiting Thursday, February 7^th, 4:00 – 7:00 PM at the John J. Fox Funeral Home in Larchmont.  Mass of Christian Burial Friday, February 8^th, 10:00 AM at Sts. John & Paul Church in Larchmont. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Valhalla, NY.