CLARA O’BRIEN

Clara Helen Hummel O’Brien, 93, of Quincy, formerly of Lewistown, Missouri, passed away in her home February 11, 2023 surrounded by her children.  Clara was a faithful wife, devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, and good friend.  She was a pillar of strength and wellspring of love.

Clara was born in Ellington Township December 10, 1929 to Edward and Dorothy (Brink) Hummel, the 6th of six children.  She married Glendell L “Mike” O’Brien September 13, 1952.  Together, they adopted four orphan children through Catholic Charities.  She was a wonderful mother.  A mama bear could take lessons from her in loving and guiding and protecting her children to her last breath.

Clara first went to school at St. Michael’s catholic, and later to Washington public school for 7th and 8th grade.  An excellent student, her favorite subject was spelling.  She wanted to go to high school so she could become a teacher, but Illinois did not provide free high school and her family could not afford to send her.  Her teacher even went to her family to beg them to send her on to high school, but to no avail.   When she was 62, Clara successfully sat for her GED, working with her youngest daughter to learn algebra which she had never been taught.  “When that diploma came in the mail, I sat and cried.”, she said.

Clara worked in many capacities in and out of the home throughout her life.  She left home at 17 to move to Quincy where she worked at Eli Walker’s sewing pockets on dresses for 2 years.   She then worked for Motorola making radios for 7 years before stopping to raise her children.  She applied her many talents to making a home for her family.  She was a homemaker who truly made a home. 

Her talents were seemingly endless.  She could do anything that needed doing.  She was a wonderful cook, seamstress, gardener, and farmer.  She raised registered dogs for many years including Lhasa Apsos, Scottish, West Highland, and Boston Terriers, among others.   When her children were mostly grown, she worked as a seamstress for Prairie View Rest Home, then became a Head Cook for Lewis County C-1 schools for 15 years.  She had a home quilting business for more than 30 years and quilted hundreds of blankets for hundreds of people.  

A devoted catholic, Clara attended St. Joseph parish in Ellington Township and St Francis in Quincy during her childhood.  She was a member of Queen of Peace parish in Ewing, Missouri for more than 60 years, and, more recently, again of St Francis parish of Quincy.  She taught Sunday school for over 30 years and served in every possible capacity on the Parish Council and Altar Society at Queen of Peace parish.  She made countless quilts that were raffled off there each year and never failed to respond to the many requests for her homemade pies for church functions.  The power of her prayer could move mountains, and frequently did.

She was a truly good person.  She always gave her best.  She never put on airs.  She was caring and kind and sweet.  Her love was fierce and boundless and unconditional.  She always thought of others before herself.  “I’m 93.  Don’t cry for me.”, she said.

If Clara didn’t go straight to Heaven, the rest of us have no chance.

She is survived by four children; Peggy Lane of Ottumwa, Iowa, Bill (Terri) O’Brien of Odessa, Missouri, Joe (Bernie) O’Brien of Quincy, and Mary Kay O’Brien of Alexandria, Virginia; 11 grandchildren; Amanda (Jerry) Menke, Katie, and Nicholas O’Brien; Tyler (LaShay) Lane, Allison (Ben) Weber, and Adam (Halee) Lane; Crystal (Todd) Johnson and Elizabeth Harmon; and Michael, Lana, and Thomas Caragher; 15 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a brother-in-law, William M “Butch” (Dorothy) O’Brien.

She is preceded in death by her parents, three brothers; Robert (Rita), Gerald (Wilma), and Carl (Sally) Hummel; two sisters; Margaret ‘Marge’ (Paul) Wolf, and an unnamed sister who died at birth. 

The family would like to give love and thanks to Blessing Hospice, especially Molly Beaver and Trista Niesen.  Clara would have said that their care and dedication would “put stars in their crown”.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 9:30 in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home and a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 in St. Francis Catholic Church by the Rev James Wheeler, Rev Steve Arisman, and Deacon Holbrook with interment at Calvary Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening from 4:00 until 7:30 PM. 

Memorials may be made to Catholic Charities, or masses given in her name to St Francis Catholic Church in Quincy or Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ewing, MO.