Robert George Clara {Bobby} was the son of Frank D., and Anita [Scalzi] and brother of Frank J., Carolina Petrykowski, Fortunato J., MaryAnn Perry, James J., Anita R., John R. and Rosemary Clara.
He died of pneumonia at the age of 18 years.
My brother, Robert George Clara: I don't remember much about him but do remember visiting him at the Hospital where he 'lived'. He was the 6th born to my parents [I was #9] and was delivered at home by a Doctor that was drunk! The Doctor 'swung him by his feet' and accidentally struck his head on the corner of the dresser, causing brain damage.
Although my brother grew in size [approx. 6 ft. Tall] he never could walk or talk and his arms grew in a crooked position and he could not extend them. He was 'a baby' his entire life, had to be diapered, fed and carried. My parents did the best they could caring for him in our home as long as they possibly could until they eventually had to put him in a State run facility in 1946 where he could receive around the clock care, [due to the addition of three more children born after Bobby, the 8th child John being born with only one quarter of one kidney functional which required most of his days being spent commuting to -by bus-or being an in-patient at Children's Hospital until the age of nine and my family's limited finances].
Although my parents did not own a car we were able to visit him every weekend thanks to my older brothers Frank, Forchey & wife Celia and Jim & wife Noretta and sisters Carolina & husband Clarence and Maryann & husband Bob who took turns driving us to Lapeer. We would bring him rattles and various baby toys that we strung across his crib and he would laugh and kick at them with his feet. He was always a very happy 'baby' and always seemed very excited to see us. He was aged 18 when he got pneumonia and passed away at Lapeer State Home [A.K.A. Oakdale State Hospital] in Lapeer, Michigan in 1952. He was buried at a cemetery somewhere in the Lapeer area [possibly on the Hospital grounds]. I believe he was 'buried by the State' and although I visited his grave with my parents as a child [my father bought a 1952 Packard in 1953], I can not remember the name of the cemetery or exact location.
When my father [Frank D. Clara] passed away in 1970, my mother [Anita M. Clara] tried to arrange having my brother Bobby moved to the same cemetery [Evergreen, Detroit, Mi.] but was told it was best to not disturb his remains. My mother has since passed away and I have no way of finding the final resting place of my brother or the exact date in February that he passed.
-------------------------------------------
~Heavens Very Special Child~
A meeting was held, quite far from earth
"It's time again for another birth"
Said the Angels to the Lord above,
"This special child will need much love.
His progress may seem very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show
And he'll require extra care
From all the folks he meets down there.
He may not run or laugh or play
His thoughts may seem quite far away
In many ways he won't adapt
And he'll be known as handicapped.
So lets be careful where he's sent,
We want his life to be content
Please, Lord, find the right parents who
Will do this special job for You.
They may not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
Is Heavens Very Special Child.
written by: Edna Massimilla
--------------------------------------
***** UPDATE: JULY 17, 2009 *****
**AFTER ONLY ONE WEEK OF RESEARCHING, JANELLE MARTIN HAS NOT ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE EXACT DATE AND TIME OF MY BROTHERS DEATH [FEB. 23, 1952 9:50 A.M.] BUT HAS ALSO LOCATED AND CONFIRMED THE CEMETERY [STILES] HE IS LAID TO REST IN! I OWE HER AN IMMEASURABLE DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUT FORTH IN HELPING TO SOLVE 'A MISSING LINK' IN OUR FAMILY AND PROVIDING US PEACE OF MIND BY FILLING THIS VOID IN OUR LIVES. I HAVE YET TO JOURNEY TO LAPEER TO PAY RESPECTS TO MY BROTHER BUT INTEND ON DOING SO IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WHEN I CAN GET INFORMATION ON SECTION, PLOT AND GRAVE. MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN COMPASSIONATE AND ASSISTED IN ANY WAY.***
*******UPDATE JULY 23, 2009*******
IT WAS A CLOUDY, OVERCAST DAY WITH INTERMITTENT SHOWERS BUT MY DEAR FRIEND, KENNETH ['RADAR'] RARIDEN, WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DRIVE ME TO MAYFIELD TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN [ALMOST A 2 HOUR TRIP] WHERE THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DIANNA IRELAND WAS KIND ENOUGH TO WALK US OUT TO AN AREA IN 'SECTION A' OF UNMARKED GRAVES THOUGHT TO BE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF MY BROTHER. SHE TOLD US ANOTHER WOMAN HAD STOPPED IN EARLIER ALSO IN SEARCH OF MY BROTHER'S GRAVE...I WAS STARTLED AT FIRST BUT THEN REMEMBERED I HAD 'PUT A PHOTO REQUEST' ON FIND A GRAVE THE DAY I WAS TOLD HE WAS BURIED AT STILES.
AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH [WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN UNMARKED AREA?] WE JOURNEYED BACK TO LAPEER AND STOPPED AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE MY BROTHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE, WHICH REVEALED THAT MY BROTHER'S CERTIFIED MEDICAL CONDITION WAS MICROGYRIA AND MICROCEPHALUS WITH SPASTIC QUADRIPLEGIA AND MENTAL DEFICIENCY AND THAT HE ALSO HAD BEEN ILL FOR 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO DYING FROM UNRESOLVED FIBROUS BRONCHOPNEUMONIA, AFTER BEING A RESIDENT IN THE LAPEER STATE HOME AND TRAINING SCHOOL FOR SIX YEARS.
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE FUNERAL HOME THAT HELD HIS FUNERAL [BAIRD] WAS STILL IN BUSINESS BUT UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP [LYNCH-CAPSTICK]...THAT WAS OUR NEXT STOP WHERE A YOUNG MAN NAMED MARK SEARCHED THE RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 1952 BUT TO NO AVAIL.....
ANOTHER 'BRICK WALL'...
WE THEN WALKED NEXT DOOR WHERE THE HISTORICAL AND GENEOLOGY SOCIETY'S ARE HOUSED AND AS 'LUCK WOULD HAVE IT' THEY WERE CLOSED! OPEN ON WED. & SAT. ONLY [IT WAS THURS.] BUT, WITH A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL FOR APPOINTMENTS.
THE GENTLEMAN THAT ANSWERED THE PHONE SAID HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO OPEN FOR US DUE TO THE DISTANCE WE HAD TRAVELED...BUT HE WAS ILL WITH THE FLU.... FURTHER CONVERSATION REVEALED HE HAD BEEN THE PERSON WHO HAD RESEARCHED AND RECONFIRMED NOT ONLY THAT MY BROTHER WAS BURIED IN STILES CEMETERY BUT DID INDEED ALSO HAVE A HEADSTONE!
OUR NEXT STOP WAS THE LAPEER DISTRICT LIBRARY WHERE I FINALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET JANELLE MARTIN, THE YOUNG LADY WHO WORKED SO DILIGENTLY, CONTACTING ALL OF THE 'RIGHT PEOPLE' AND OBTAINING INFORMATION FOR ME.
TOGETHER WE SEARCHED THROUGH TWO HUGE SCRAPBOOKS OF ASSORTED NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND PHOTO'S WHILE MY FRIEND KENNETH, PATIENTLY SEARCHED THROUGH THREE MICROFILMS, ALL TO NO AVAIL. WE THANKED JANELLE FOR ALL OF HER ASSISTANCE AND LEFT WITH HEAVY HEARTS KNOWING THAT ALTHOUGH 'WE HAD TRIED' WE AT LEAST WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF MY BROTHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE AND THAT WE STOOD, HOWEVER BRIEF' IN THE 'GENERAL LOCALE' OF MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE.
AFTER STOPPING FOR OUR FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY [SIX HOURS INTO OUR SEARCH] WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO STILES CEMETRY....I HAD RECALLED THAT AS A CHILD I REMEMBERED ONLY ONE ENTRANCE [NOW THERE ARE THREE] AND DRIVING IN BETWEEN TWO HILLS [WHICH I NOW RECOGNIZE AS ONLY 'MOUNDS']....KENNETH AGREED TO 'SEARCH TO THE RIGHT' OF THE ROAD AS I 'SEARCHED TO THE LEFT', STARTING FROM THE MAIN ROAD AND WHEN I WAS ALMOST FINISHED WITH 'MY SECTION' I HEARD KENNETH SHOUT 'ROSIE, COME HERE...I FOUND HIM'. HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL AREA OF UNMARKED GRAVES THAT WE HAD SEARCHED EARLIER,AND ONE OF THE LAST TWO HEADSTONES LEFT TO CHECK!
I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THE EMOTION THAT CAME OVER ME AT NOT ONLY HEARING THOSE WORDS BUT TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO STAND AT MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND TOUCH HIS MEMORIAL MARKER KNOWING HE IS AT PEACE. AND AT THAT MOMENT, THE SUN BURST THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND THE MOST GENTLE RAIN, ALMOST MISTLIKE, FELL UPON US UNTIL WE REACHED THE CAR, AND THEN IT STOPPED BUT, THE SUN CONTINUED TO SHINE ON OUR COMPLETE JOURNEY HOME.
***MY MOST SINCERE AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO MY DEAR FRIEND KENNETH RARIDEN FOR ALL OF HIS HELP AND PATIENCE IN LOCATING MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE AND FOR PHOTOGRAPHING HIS MEMORIAL MARKER, BUT MOST OF ALL FOR THE GIFT OF SHARING HIS PRECIOUS TIME, KINDNESS, CONSIDERATION AND COMPASSION. I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU AND WILL ALWAYS CHERISH YOUR FRIENDSHIP.***
**I'd also like to thank Find A Grave contributor, Sharon O for attempting to fulfill my photo request for my brother Robert Clara***
**I'd like to thank each one of you for stopping by my brother's site and leaving flowers and comforting messages.
I appreciate your kindness in paying tribute to him.**
*** Mr. Edward Leffew,
I can never thank you enough for your kindness dear Sir. You have touched my life and my heart with your generosity by paying tribute to and sponsoring the memorial site of my brothers Robert George, Fortunato James, Frank Jerome, John Richard Clara and my dear Sister MaryAnn [Clara] Perry and [in addition to my parents Frank D. and Anita M. Clara].
My wish for you Sir is to receive an abundance of blessings in return.
Please visit Robert's siblings:
Frank
Fortunato
Maryann
John
Carolina
James
Niece:
Kimberly
and parents as well.
He died of pneumonia at the age of 18 years.
My brother, Robert George Clara: I don't remember much about him but do remember visiting him at the Hospital where he 'lived'. He was the 6th born to my parents [I was #9] and was delivered at home by a Doctor that was drunk! The Doctor 'swung him by his feet' and accidentally struck his head on the corner of the dresser, causing brain damage.
Although my brother grew in size [approx. 6 ft. Tall] he never could walk or talk and his arms grew in a crooked position and he could not extend them. He was 'a baby' his entire life, had to be diapered, fed and carried. My parents did the best they could caring for him in our home as long as they possibly could until they eventually had to put him in a State run facility in 1946 where he could receive around the clock care, [due to the addition of three more children born after Bobby, the 8th child John being born with only one quarter of one kidney functional which required most of his days being spent commuting to -by bus-or being an in-patient at Children's Hospital until the age of nine and my family's limited finances].
Although my parents did not own a car we were able to visit him every weekend thanks to my older brothers Frank, Forchey & wife Celia and Jim & wife Noretta and sisters Carolina & husband Clarence and Maryann & husband Bob who took turns driving us to Lapeer. We would bring him rattles and various baby toys that we strung across his crib and he would laugh and kick at them with his feet. He was always a very happy 'baby' and always seemed very excited to see us. He was aged 18 when he got pneumonia and passed away at Lapeer State Home [A.K.A. Oakdale State Hospital] in Lapeer, Michigan in 1952. He was buried at a cemetery somewhere in the Lapeer area [possibly on the Hospital grounds]. I believe he was 'buried by the State' and although I visited his grave with my parents as a child [my father bought a 1952 Packard in 1953], I can not remember the name of the cemetery or exact location.
When my father [Frank D. Clara] passed away in 1970, my mother [Anita M. Clara] tried to arrange having my brother Bobby moved to the same cemetery [Evergreen, Detroit, Mi.] but was told it was best to not disturb his remains. My mother has since passed away and I have no way of finding the final resting place of my brother or the exact date in February that he passed.
-------------------------------------------
~Heavens Very Special Child~
A meeting was held, quite far from earth
"It's time again for another birth"
Said the Angels to the Lord above,
"This special child will need much love.
His progress may seem very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show
And he'll require extra care
From all the folks he meets down there.
He may not run or laugh or play
His thoughts may seem quite far away
In many ways he won't adapt
And he'll be known as handicapped.
So lets be careful where he's sent,
We want his life to be content
Please, Lord, find the right parents who
Will do this special job for You.
They may not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
Is Heavens Very Special Child.
written by: Edna Massimilla
--------------------------------------
***** UPDATE: JULY 17, 2009 *****
**AFTER ONLY ONE WEEK OF RESEARCHING, JANELLE MARTIN HAS NOT ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE EXACT DATE AND TIME OF MY BROTHERS DEATH [FEB. 23, 1952 9:50 A.M.] BUT HAS ALSO LOCATED AND CONFIRMED THE CEMETERY [STILES] HE IS LAID TO REST IN! I OWE HER AN IMMEASURABLE DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUT FORTH IN HELPING TO SOLVE 'A MISSING LINK' IN OUR FAMILY AND PROVIDING US PEACE OF MIND BY FILLING THIS VOID IN OUR LIVES. I HAVE YET TO JOURNEY TO LAPEER TO PAY RESPECTS TO MY BROTHER BUT INTEND ON DOING SO IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WHEN I CAN GET INFORMATION ON SECTION, PLOT AND GRAVE. MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN COMPASSIONATE AND ASSISTED IN ANY WAY.***
*******UPDATE JULY 23, 2009*******
IT WAS A CLOUDY, OVERCAST DAY WITH INTERMITTENT SHOWERS BUT MY DEAR FRIEND, KENNETH ['RADAR'] RARIDEN, WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DRIVE ME TO MAYFIELD TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN [ALMOST A 2 HOUR TRIP] WHERE THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DIANNA IRELAND WAS KIND ENOUGH TO WALK US OUT TO AN AREA IN 'SECTION A' OF UNMARKED GRAVES THOUGHT TO BE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF MY BROTHER. SHE TOLD US ANOTHER WOMAN HAD STOPPED IN EARLIER ALSO IN SEARCH OF MY BROTHER'S GRAVE...I WAS STARTLED AT FIRST BUT THEN REMEMBERED I HAD 'PUT A PHOTO REQUEST' ON FIND A GRAVE THE DAY I WAS TOLD HE WAS BURIED AT STILES.
AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH [WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN UNMARKED AREA?] WE JOURNEYED BACK TO LAPEER AND STOPPED AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE MY BROTHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE, WHICH REVEALED THAT MY BROTHER'S CERTIFIED MEDICAL CONDITION WAS MICROGYRIA AND MICROCEPHALUS WITH SPASTIC QUADRIPLEGIA AND MENTAL DEFICIENCY AND THAT HE ALSO HAD BEEN ILL FOR 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO DYING FROM UNRESOLVED FIBROUS BRONCHOPNEUMONIA, AFTER BEING A RESIDENT IN THE LAPEER STATE HOME AND TRAINING SCHOOL FOR SIX YEARS.
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE FUNERAL HOME THAT HELD HIS FUNERAL [BAIRD] WAS STILL IN BUSINESS BUT UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP [LYNCH-CAPSTICK]...THAT WAS OUR NEXT STOP WHERE A YOUNG MAN NAMED MARK SEARCHED THE RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 1952 BUT TO NO AVAIL.....
ANOTHER 'BRICK WALL'...
WE THEN WALKED NEXT DOOR WHERE THE HISTORICAL AND GENEOLOGY SOCIETY'S ARE HOUSED AND AS 'LUCK WOULD HAVE IT' THEY WERE CLOSED! OPEN ON WED. & SAT. ONLY [IT WAS THURS.] BUT, WITH A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL FOR APPOINTMENTS.
THE GENTLEMAN THAT ANSWERED THE PHONE SAID HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO OPEN FOR US DUE TO THE DISTANCE WE HAD TRAVELED...BUT HE WAS ILL WITH THE FLU.... FURTHER CONVERSATION REVEALED HE HAD BEEN THE PERSON WHO HAD RESEARCHED AND RECONFIRMED NOT ONLY THAT MY BROTHER WAS BURIED IN STILES CEMETERY BUT DID INDEED ALSO HAVE A HEADSTONE!
OUR NEXT STOP WAS THE LAPEER DISTRICT LIBRARY WHERE I FINALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET JANELLE MARTIN, THE YOUNG LADY WHO WORKED SO DILIGENTLY, CONTACTING ALL OF THE 'RIGHT PEOPLE' AND OBTAINING INFORMATION FOR ME.
TOGETHER WE SEARCHED THROUGH TWO HUGE SCRAPBOOKS OF ASSORTED NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND PHOTO'S WHILE MY FRIEND KENNETH, PATIENTLY SEARCHED THROUGH THREE MICROFILMS, ALL TO NO AVAIL. WE THANKED JANELLE FOR ALL OF HER ASSISTANCE AND LEFT WITH HEAVY HEARTS KNOWING THAT ALTHOUGH 'WE HAD TRIED' WE AT LEAST WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF MY BROTHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE AND THAT WE STOOD, HOWEVER BRIEF' IN THE 'GENERAL LOCALE' OF MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE.
AFTER STOPPING FOR OUR FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY [SIX HOURS INTO OUR SEARCH] WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO STILES CEMETRY....I HAD RECALLED THAT AS A CHILD I REMEMBERED ONLY ONE ENTRANCE [NOW THERE ARE THREE] AND DRIVING IN BETWEEN TWO HILLS [WHICH I NOW RECOGNIZE AS ONLY 'MOUNDS']....KENNETH AGREED TO 'SEARCH TO THE RIGHT' OF THE ROAD AS I 'SEARCHED TO THE LEFT', STARTING FROM THE MAIN ROAD AND WHEN I WAS ALMOST FINISHED WITH 'MY SECTION' I HEARD KENNETH SHOUT 'ROSIE, COME HERE...I FOUND HIM'. HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL AREA OF UNMARKED GRAVES THAT WE HAD SEARCHED EARLIER,AND ONE OF THE LAST TWO HEADSTONES LEFT TO CHECK!
I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THE EMOTION THAT CAME OVER ME AT NOT ONLY HEARING THOSE WORDS BUT TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO STAND AT MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND TOUCH HIS MEMORIAL MARKER KNOWING HE IS AT PEACE. AND AT THAT MOMENT, THE SUN BURST THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND THE MOST GENTLE RAIN, ALMOST MISTLIKE, FELL UPON US UNTIL WE REACHED THE CAR, AND THEN IT STOPPED BUT, THE SUN CONTINUED TO SHINE ON OUR COMPLETE JOURNEY HOME.
***MY MOST SINCERE AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO MY DEAR FRIEND KENNETH RARIDEN FOR ALL OF HIS HELP AND PATIENCE IN LOCATING MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE AND FOR PHOTOGRAPHING HIS MEMORIAL MARKER, BUT MOST OF ALL FOR THE GIFT OF SHARING HIS PRECIOUS TIME, KINDNESS, CONSIDERATION AND COMPASSION. I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU AND WILL ALWAYS CHERISH YOUR FRIENDSHIP.***
**I'd also like to thank Find A Grave contributor, Sharon O for attempting to fulfill my photo request for my brother Robert Clara***
**I'd like to thank each one of you for stopping by my brother's site and leaving flowers and comforting messages.
I appreciate your kindness in paying tribute to him.**
*** Mr. Edward Leffew,
I can never thank you enough for your kindness dear Sir. You have touched my life and my heart with your generosity by paying tribute to and sponsoring the memorial site of my brothers Robert George, Fortunato James, Frank Jerome, John Richard Clara and my dear Sister MaryAnn [Clara] Perry and [in addition to my parents Frank D. and Anita M. Clara].
My wish for you Sir is to receive an abundance of blessings in return.
Please visit Robert's siblings:
Frank
Fortunato
Maryann
John
Carolina
James
Niece:
Kimberly
and parents as well.
Robert George Clara {Bobby} was the son of Frank D., and Anita [Scalzi] and brother of Frank J., Carolina Petrykowski, Fortunato J., MaryAnn Perry, James J., Anita R., John R. and Rosemary Clara.
He died of pneumonia at the age of 18 years.
My brother, Robert George Clara: I don't remember much about him but do remember visiting him at the Hospital where he 'lived'. He was the 6th born to my parents [I was #9] and was delivered at home by a Doctor that was drunk! The Doctor 'swung him by his feet' and accidentally struck his head on the corner of the dresser, causing brain damage.
Although my brother grew in size [approx. 6 ft. Tall] he never could walk or talk and his arms grew in a crooked position and he could not extend them. He was 'a baby' his entire life, had to be diapered, fed and carried. My parents did the best they could caring for him in our home as long as they possibly could until they eventually had to put him in a State run facility in 1946 where he could receive around the clock care, [due to the addition of three more children born after Bobby, the 8th child John being born with only one quarter of one kidney functional which required most of his days being spent commuting to -by bus-or being an in-patient at Children's Hospital until the age of nine and my family's limited finances].
Although my parents did not own a car we were able to visit him every weekend thanks to my older brothers Frank, Forchey & wife Celia and Jim & wife Noretta and sisters Carolina & husband Clarence and Maryann & husband Bob who took turns driving us to Lapeer. We would bring him rattles and various baby toys that we strung across his crib and he would laugh and kick at them with his feet. He was always a very happy 'baby' and always seemed very excited to see us. He was aged 18 when he got pneumonia and passed away at Lapeer State Home [A.K.A. Oakdale State Hospital] in Lapeer, Michigan in 1952. He was buried at a cemetery somewhere in the Lapeer area [possibly on the Hospital grounds]. I believe he was 'buried by the State' and although I visited his grave with my parents as a child [my father bought a 1952 Packard in 1953], I can not remember the name of the cemetery or exact location.
When my father [Frank D. Clara] passed away in 1970, my mother [Anita M. Clara] tried to arrange having my brother Bobby moved to the same cemetery [Evergreen, Detroit, Mi.] but was told it was best to not disturb his remains. My mother has since passed away and I have no way of finding the final resting place of my brother or the exact date in February that he passed.
-------------------------------------------
~Heavens Very Special Child~
A meeting was held, quite far from earth
"It's time again for another birth"
Said the Angels to the Lord above,
"This special child will need much love.
His progress may seem very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show
And he'll require extra care
From all the folks he meets down there.
He may not run or laugh or play
His thoughts may seem quite far away
In many ways he won't adapt
And he'll be known as handicapped.
So lets be careful where he's sent,
We want his life to be content
Please, Lord, find the right parents who
Will do this special job for You.
They may not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
Is Heavens Very Special Child.
written by: Edna Massimilla
--------------------------------------
***** UPDATE: JULY 17, 2009 *****
**AFTER ONLY ONE WEEK OF RESEARCHING, JANELLE MARTIN HAS NOT ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE EXACT DATE AND TIME OF MY BROTHERS DEATH [FEB. 23, 1952 9:50 A.M.] BUT HAS ALSO LOCATED AND CONFIRMED THE CEMETERY [STILES] HE IS LAID TO REST IN! I OWE HER AN IMMEASURABLE DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUT FORTH IN HELPING TO SOLVE 'A MISSING LINK' IN OUR FAMILY AND PROVIDING US PEACE OF MIND BY FILLING THIS VOID IN OUR LIVES. I HAVE YET TO JOURNEY TO LAPEER TO PAY RESPECTS TO MY BROTHER BUT INTEND ON DOING SO IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WHEN I CAN GET INFORMATION ON SECTION, PLOT AND GRAVE. MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN COMPASSIONATE AND ASSISTED IN ANY WAY.***
*******UPDATE JULY 23, 2009*******
IT WAS A CLOUDY, OVERCAST DAY WITH INTERMITTENT SHOWERS BUT MY DEAR FRIEND, KENNETH ['RADAR'] RARIDEN, WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DRIVE ME TO MAYFIELD TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN [ALMOST A 2 HOUR TRIP] WHERE THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DIANNA IRELAND WAS KIND ENOUGH TO WALK US OUT TO AN AREA IN 'SECTION A' OF UNMARKED GRAVES THOUGHT TO BE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF MY BROTHER. SHE TOLD US ANOTHER WOMAN HAD STOPPED IN EARLIER ALSO IN SEARCH OF MY BROTHER'S GRAVE...I WAS STARTLED AT FIRST BUT THEN REMEMBERED I HAD 'PUT A PHOTO REQUEST' ON FIND A GRAVE THE DAY I WAS TOLD HE WAS BURIED AT STILES.
AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH [WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN UNMARKED AREA?] WE JOURNEYED BACK TO LAPEER AND STOPPED AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE MY BROTHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE, WHICH REVEALED THAT MY BROTHER'S CERTIFIED MEDICAL CONDITION WAS MICROGYRIA AND MICROCEPHALUS WITH SPASTIC QUADRIPLEGIA AND MENTAL DEFICIENCY AND THAT HE ALSO HAD BEEN ILL FOR 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO DYING FROM UNRESOLVED FIBROUS BRONCHOPNEUMONIA, AFTER BEING A RESIDENT IN THE LAPEER STATE HOME AND TRAINING SCHOOL FOR SIX YEARS.
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE FUNERAL HOME THAT HELD HIS FUNERAL [BAIRD] WAS STILL IN BUSINESS BUT UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP [LYNCH-CAPSTICK]...THAT WAS OUR NEXT STOP WHERE A YOUNG MAN NAMED MARK SEARCHED THE RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 1952 BUT TO NO AVAIL.....
ANOTHER 'BRICK WALL'...
WE THEN WALKED NEXT DOOR WHERE THE HISTORICAL AND GENEOLOGY SOCIETY'S ARE HOUSED AND AS 'LUCK WOULD HAVE IT' THEY WERE CLOSED! OPEN ON WED. & SAT. ONLY [IT WAS THURS.] BUT, WITH A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL FOR APPOINTMENTS.
THE GENTLEMAN THAT ANSWERED THE PHONE SAID HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO OPEN FOR US DUE TO THE DISTANCE WE HAD TRAVELED...BUT HE WAS ILL WITH THE FLU.... FURTHER CONVERSATION REVEALED HE HAD BEEN THE PERSON WHO HAD RESEARCHED AND RECONFIRMED NOT ONLY THAT MY BROTHER WAS BURIED IN STILES CEMETERY BUT DID INDEED ALSO HAVE A HEADSTONE!
OUR NEXT STOP WAS THE LAPEER DISTRICT LIBRARY WHERE I FINALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET JANELLE MARTIN, THE YOUNG LADY WHO WORKED SO DILIGENTLY, CONTACTING ALL OF THE 'RIGHT PEOPLE' AND OBTAINING INFORMATION FOR ME.
TOGETHER WE SEARCHED THROUGH TWO HUGE SCRAPBOOKS OF ASSORTED NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND PHOTO'S WHILE MY FRIEND KENNETH, PATIENTLY SEARCHED THROUGH THREE MICROFILMS, ALL TO NO AVAIL. WE THANKED JANELLE FOR ALL OF HER ASSISTANCE AND LEFT WITH HEAVY HEARTS KNOWING THAT ALTHOUGH 'WE HAD TRIED' WE AT LEAST WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF MY BROTHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE AND THAT WE STOOD, HOWEVER BRIEF' IN THE 'GENERAL LOCALE' OF MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE.
AFTER STOPPING FOR OUR FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY [SIX HOURS INTO OUR SEARCH] WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO STILES CEMETRY....I HAD RECALLED THAT AS A CHILD I REMEMBERED ONLY ONE ENTRANCE [NOW THERE ARE THREE] AND DRIVING IN BETWEEN TWO HILLS [WHICH I NOW RECOGNIZE AS ONLY 'MOUNDS']....KENNETH AGREED TO 'SEARCH TO THE RIGHT' OF THE ROAD AS I 'SEARCHED TO THE LEFT', STARTING FROM THE MAIN ROAD AND WHEN I WAS ALMOST FINISHED WITH 'MY SECTION' I HEARD KENNETH SHOUT 'ROSIE, COME HERE...I FOUND HIM'. HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL AREA OF UNMARKED GRAVES THAT WE HAD SEARCHED EARLIER,AND ONE OF THE LAST TWO HEADSTONES LEFT TO CHECK!
I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THE EMOTION THAT CAME OVER ME AT NOT ONLY HEARING THOSE WORDS BUT TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO STAND AT MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND TOUCH HIS MEMORIAL MARKER KNOWING HE IS AT PEACE. AND AT THAT MOMENT, THE SUN BURST THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND THE MOST GENTLE RAIN, ALMOST MISTLIKE, FELL UPON US UNTIL WE REACHED THE CAR, AND THEN IT STOPPED BUT, THE SUN CONTINUED TO SHINE ON OUR COMPLETE JOURNEY HOME.
***MY MOST SINCERE AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO MY DEAR FRIEND KENNETH RARIDEN FOR ALL OF HIS HELP AND PATIENCE IN LOCATING MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE AND FOR PHOTOGRAPHING HIS MEMORIAL MARKER, BUT MOST OF ALL FOR THE GIFT OF SHARING HIS PRECIOUS TIME, KINDNESS, CONSIDERATION AND COMPASSION. I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU AND WILL ALWAYS CHERISH YOUR FRIENDSHIP.***
**I'd also like to thank Find A Grave contributor, Sharon O for attempting to fulfill my photo request for my brother Robert Clara***
**I'd like to thank each one of you for stopping by my brother's site and leaving flowers and comforting messages.
I appreciate your kindness in paying tribute to him.**
*** Mr. Edward Leffew,
I can never thank you enough for your kindness dear Sir. You have touched my life and my heart with your generosity by paying tribute to and sponsoring the memorial site of my brothers Robert George, Fortunato James, Frank Jerome, John Richard Clara and my dear Sister MaryAnn [Clara] Perry and [in addition to my parents Frank D. and Anita M. Clara].
My wish for you Sir is to receive an abundance of blessings in return.
Please visit Robert's siblings:
Frank
Fortunato
Maryann
John
Carolina
James
Niece:
Kimberly
and parents as well.
He died of pneumonia at the age of 18 years.
My brother, Robert George Clara: I don't remember much about him but do remember visiting him at the Hospital where he 'lived'. He was the 6th born to my parents [I was #9] and was delivered at home by a Doctor that was drunk! The Doctor 'swung him by his feet' and accidentally struck his head on the corner of the dresser, causing brain damage.
Although my brother grew in size [approx. 6 ft. Tall] he never could walk or talk and his arms grew in a crooked position and he could not extend them. He was 'a baby' his entire life, had to be diapered, fed and carried. My parents did the best they could caring for him in our home as long as they possibly could until they eventually had to put him in a State run facility in 1946 where he could receive around the clock care, [due to the addition of three more children born after Bobby, the 8th child John being born with only one quarter of one kidney functional which required most of his days being spent commuting to -by bus-or being an in-patient at Children's Hospital until the age of nine and my family's limited finances].
Although my parents did not own a car we were able to visit him every weekend thanks to my older brothers Frank, Forchey & wife Celia and Jim & wife Noretta and sisters Carolina & husband Clarence and Maryann & husband Bob who took turns driving us to Lapeer. We would bring him rattles and various baby toys that we strung across his crib and he would laugh and kick at them with his feet. He was always a very happy 'baby' and always seemed very excited to see us. He was aged 18 when he got pneumonia and passed away at Lapeer State Home [A.K.A. Oakdale State Hospital] in Lapeer, Michigan in 1952. He was buried at a cemetery somewhere in the Lapeer area [possibly on the Hospital grounds]. I believe he was 'buried by the State' and although I visited his grave with my parents as a child [my father bought a 1952 Packard in 1953], I can not remember the name of the cemetery or exact location.
When my father [Frank D. Clara] passed away in 1970, my mother [Anita M. Clara] tried to arrange having my brother Bobby moved to the same cemetery [Evergreen, Detroit, Mi.] but was told it was best to not disturb his remains. My mother has since passed away and I have no way of finding the final resting place of my brother or the exact date in February that he passed.
-------------------------------------------
~Heavens Very Special Child~
A meeting was held, quite far from earth
"It's time again for another birth"
Said the Angels to the Lord above,
"This special child will need much love.
His progress may seem very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show
And he'll require extra care
From all the folks he meets down there.
He may not run or laugh or play
His thoughts may seem quite far away
In many ways he won't adapt
And he'll be known as handicapped.
So lets be careful where he's sent,
We want his life to be content
Please, Lord, find the right parents who
Will do this special job for You.
They may not realize right away
The leading role they're asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they'll know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild
Is Heavens Very Special Child.
written by: Edna Massimilla
--------------------------------------
***** UPDATE: JULY 17, 2009 *****
**AFTER ONLY ONE WEEK OF RESEARCHING, JANELLE MARTIN HAS NOT ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE EXACT DATE AND TIME OF MY BROTHERS DEATH [FEB. 23, 1952 9:50 A.M.] BUT HAS ALSO LOCATED AND CONFIRMED THE CEMETERY [STILES] HE IS LAID TO REST IN! I OWE HER AN IMMEASURABLE DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE TIME AND EFFORT SHE PUT FORTH IN HELPING TO SOLVE 'A MISSING LINK' IN OUR FAMILY AND PROVIDING US PEACE OF MIND BY FILLING THIS VOID IN OUR LIVES. I HAVE YET TO JOURNEY TO LAPEER TO PAY RESPECTS TO MY BROTHER BUT INTEND ON DOING SO IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WHEN I CAN GET INFORMATION ON SECTION, PLOT AND GRAVE. MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN COMPASSIONATE AND ASSISTED IN ANY WAY.***
*******UPDATE JULY 23, 2009*******
IT WAS A CLOUDY, OVERCAST DAY WITH INTERMITTENT SHOWERS BUT MY DEAR FRIEND, KENNETH ['RADAR'] RARIDEN, WAS KIND ENOUGH TO DRIVE ME TO MAYFIELD TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN [ALMOST A 2 HOUR TRIP] WHERE THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DIANNA IRELAND WAS KIND ENOUGH TO WALK US OUT TO AN AREA IN 'SECTION A' OF UNMARKED GRAVES THOUGHT TO BE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF MY BROTHER. SHE TOLD US ANOTHER WOMAN HAD STOPPED IN EARLIER ALSO IN SEARCH OF MY BROTHER'S GRAVE...I WAS STARTLED AT FIRST BUT THEN REMEMBERED I HAD 'PUT A PHOTO REQUEST' ON FIND A GRAVE THE DAY I WAS TOLD HE WAS BURIED AT STILES.
AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH [WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN UNMARKED AREA?] WE JOURNEYED BACK TO LAPEER AND STOPPED AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE MY BROTHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE, WHICH REVEALED THAT MY BROTHER'S CERTIFIED MEDICAL CONDITION WAS MICROGYRIA AND MICROCEPHALUS WITH SPASTIC QUADRIPLEGIA AND MENTAL DEFICIENCY AND THAT HE ALSO HAD BEEN ILL FOR 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO DYING FROM UNRESOLVED FIBROUS BRONCHOPNEUMONIA, AFTER BEING A RESIDENT IN THE LAPEER STATE HOME AND TRAINING SCHOOL FOR SIX YEARS.
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE FUNERAL HOME THAT HELD HIS FUNERAL [BAIRD] WAS STILL IN BUSINESS BUT UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP [LYNCH-CAPSTICK]...THAT WAS OUR NEXT STOP WHERE A YOUNG MAN NAMED MARK SEARCHED THE RECORDS FOR FEBRUARY 1952 BUT TO NO AVAIL.....
ANOTHER 'BRICK WALL'...
WE THEN WALKED NEXT DOOR WHERE THE HISTORICAL AND GENEOLOGY SOCIETY'S ARE HOUSED AND AS 'LUCK WOULD HAVE IT' THEY WERE CLOSED! OPEN ON WED. & SAT. ONLY [IT WAS THURS.] BUT, WITH A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL FOR APPOINTMENTS.
THE GENTLEMAN THAT ANSWERED THE PHONE SAID HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO OPEN FOR US DUE TO THE DISTANCE WE HAD TRAVELED...BUT HE WAS ILL WITH THE FLU.... FURTHER CONVERSATION REVEALED HE HAD BEEN THE PERSON WHO HAD RESEARCHED AND RECONFIRMED NOT ONLY THAT MY BROTHER WAS BURIED IN STILES CEMETERY BUT DID INDEED ALSO HAVE A HEADSTONE!
OUR NEXT STOP WAS THE LAPEER DISTRICT LIBRARY WHERE I FINALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET JANELLE MARTIN, THE YOUNG LADY WHO WORKED SO DILIGENTLY, CONTACTING ALL OF THE 'RIGHT PEOPLE' AND OBTAINING INFORMATION FOR ME.
TOGETHER WE SEARCHED THROUGH TWO HUGE SCRAPBOOKS OF ASSORTED NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND PHOTO'S WHILE MY FRIEND KENNETH, PATIENTLY SEARCHED THROUGH THREE MICROFILMS, ALL TO NO AVAIL. WE THANKED JANELLE FOR ALL OF HER ASSISTANCE AND LEFT WITH HEAVY HEARTS KNOWING THAT ALTHOUGH 'WE HAD TRIED' WE AT LEAST WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF MY BROTHER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE AND THAT WE STOOD, HOWEVER BRIEF' IN THE 'GENERAL LOCALE' OF MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE.
AFTER STOPPING FOR OUR FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY [SIX HOURS INTO OUR SEARCH] WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO STILES CEMETRY....I HAD RECALLED THAT AS A CHILD I REMEMBERED ONLY ONE ENTRANCE [NOW THERE ARE THREE] AND DRIVING IN BETWEEN TWO HILLS [WHICH I NOW RECOGNIZE AS ONLY 'MOUNDS']....KENNETH AGREED TO 'SEARCH TO THE RIGHT' OF THE ROAD AS I 'SEARCHED TO THE LEFT', STARTING FROM THE MAIN ROAD AND WHEN I WAS ALMOST FINISHED WITH 'MY SECTION' I HEARD KENNETH SHOUT 'ROSIE, COME HERE...I FOUND HIM'. HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL AREA OF UNMARKED GRAVES THAT WE HAD SEARCHED EARLIER,AND ONE OF THE LAST TWO HEADSTONES LEFT TO CHECK!
I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THE EMOTION THAT CAME OVER ME AT NOT ONLY HEARING THOSE WORDS BUT TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO STAND AT MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND TOUCH HIS MEMORIAL MARKER KNOWING HE IS AT PEACE. AND AT THAT MOMENT, THE SUN BURST THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND THE MOST GENTLE RAIN, ALMOST MISTLIKE, FELL UPON US UNTIL WE REACHED THE CAR, AND THEN IT STOPPED BUT, THE SUN CONTINUED TO SHINE ON OUR COMPLETE JOURNEY HOME.
***MY MOST SINCERE AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO MY DEAR FRIEND KENNETH RARIDEN FOR ALL OF HIS HELP AND PATIENCE IN LOCATING MY BROTHER'S FINAL RESTING PLACE AND FOR PHOTOGRAPHING HIS MEMORIAL MARKER, BUT MOST OF ALL FOR THE GIFT OF SHARING HIS PRECIOUS TIME, KINDNESS, CONSIDERATION AND COMPASSION. I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU AND WILL ALWAYS CHERISH YOUR FRIENDSHIP.***
**I'd also like to thank Find A Grave contributor, Sharon O for attempting to fulfill my photo request for my brother Robert Clara***
**I'd like to thank each one of you for stopping by my brother's site and leaving flowers and comforting messages.
I appreciate your kindness in paying tribute to him.**
*** Mr. Edward Leffew,
I can never thank you enough for your kindness dear Sir. You have touched my life and my heart with your generosity by paying tribute to and sponsoring the memorial site of my brothers Robert George, Fortunato James, Frank Jerome, John Richard Clara and my dear Sister MaryAnn [Clara] Perry and [in addition to my parents Frank D. and Anita M. Clara].
My wish for you Sir is to receive an abundance of blessings in return.
Please visit Robert's siblings:
Frank
Fortunato
Maryann
John
Carolina
James
Niece:
Kimberly
and parents as well.
