Clara M. Vangorder

VanGorder, Clara AmiciIthaca: Clara Amici VanGorder, 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 17, 2013. She was born in Ithaca, daughter of the late Loreto and Maria Rosetelli Amici and the widow of John F. VanGorder, who died in 1983. John and Clara had been married for 38 years.

Clara graduated from Immaculate Conception School and was a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Church. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters and had been active in the parish festival for many years. Clara was the head waitress at Ithaca College's Tower Club for over 25 years prior to her retirement. She also worked at the Sunnyside and Villa restaurants. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and a Charter Member of the Eagles Auxiliary.

Clara is survived by her sons, John J. (Janet) VanGorder and Donald J. (Kandace) VanGorder; her daughter, Patricia (Bill Shippos) Darsie; seven grandchildren, Shelby (Marquis Brown) VanGorder, Jocelyn (Jason June) VanGorder, Joseph (Emily) VanGorder, Jamie (Carrie) VanGorder, Jody VanGorder, Jill (Dan Kotmel) Darsie and Jay (Catrina) Darsie. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren, Courtney, Kaitlyn, Sierra, Hope (Miguel), Natalie, Dylan, Jeremiah, Bianca, Grace, Zane, Keaton, Olivia, Hailey and Ava Clara; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Clara was predeceased by her siblings, Anna, Fernando, Dominic and Thomas Amici.

A Mass of The Resurrection will be celebrated by Fr. Jeffrey Tunnicliff on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bangs Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Immaculate Conception School where a scholarship to provide financial assistance to students is being established in Clara's memory. The family would like to thank Longview and Hospicare for their loving care.