Obituary for Clare Marie Sohr
Clare Marie Sohr was born on October 9, 1943 in New York City, the daughter of Anastasia “Ann” Murphy and John “Jack” O’Connell. She had two loving sisters, Eileen and Sheila, with whom she enjoyed a loving childhood. She lived her younger years at Visitation Parish in the Bronx, later moving with her family to St. Peter’s Parish in Yonkers. She was a member of the first graduating class of Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale.
In her senior year at Maria Regina, Clare met Robert E. Sohr, a college freshman, and they were together ever since. On August 10, 1963, Bob and Clare married in St. Peter’s Church in Yonkers. She gained two loving sisters-in-law, Barbara Horree and Patricia Sohr, and brother-in-law, Fred Sohr.
Throughout the years, Clare nurtured her growing family, as the world’s most loving, patient, and caring mother to seven children and as a supportive wife to Bob. In 1966, the Sohr family moved into their first home in St. Barnabas Parish in Southeast Yonkers and lived there for many years, living close to Clare’s sister and her husband, Sheila and Eugene, and her mother “Nana.” Sheila, Eugene, and Nana were daily fixtures in their lives. In 1989, the Sohr family moved to St. Joseph’s Parish in Bronxville and lived there for many years. In 2018, Clare and Bob moved to Crestwood to be nearer to several of their children and grandchildren.
Clare was an involved member of the communities in which she lived and could often be found at the gym cheering on one of her children or grandchildren at a basketball game. Clare was a loyal friend to many, cherishing both her lifelong friendships and those she met along the way as she raised her children and as she enjoyed being an integral part of her grandchildren’s lives.
Clare was most affectionately known as Mom or Gurney. Mom took great pride in raising her seven children, hearing us all for countless tests, driving us to endless sporting events, and enjoying limitless laughs. Thirty-three years ago, Mom became a grandmother- our Gurney. She often proudly shared how her oldest grandchild dubbed her with the name Gurney- a unique name suited for such a dedicated grandmother whose love for her grandchildren could not be measured. Gurney could often be found with a family member enjoying a cup of tea, having a chat, and getting some news about what was happening in their lives. She genuinely cared about the major as well as the minor events in all of our lives. She welcomed a phone call or visit from anyone in the family and beamed when someone popped in unannounced for a visit. She cherished family vacations, countless laughs with the family, and the special occasions as much as the everyday life. Not a day went by without Gurney speaking to or seeing several children, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, or sons-in-law.
Gurney’s love for her family was so profound that it could be felt by all who knew her- and this love was clearly reciprocated by every single family member. Quite simply, Gurney was blessed by her family and her family was enormously blessed by her. She will be deeply missed.
Clare is survived by her husband and her seven children- Robert (Milly), Michael (Sheila), Jeanne (Daniel) Harrigan, John, Susan (Lee) Manning, Kevin (Lisa), and Katherine (Ronald) Jedlicka. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren- Elizabeth, Mary, and Timothy Harrigan, Katherine (Carlos) Petrovich, Caroline, Kevin, Brian, Alison, Kristen, Patrick, Anastasia and Katherine Sohr, Jane and John “Jack” Manning, Aidan, Ryan, and Molly Jedlicka, and one great-granddaughter, Grace Lambert. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. Clare was predeceased by her parents and her sisters, Eileen Forter and Sheila McCarvill.
Visitation will be held at Flynn Memorial Home, 1652 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers on Thursday, July 28 and Friday, July 29 from 4 to 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 30th at 10 am at Annunciation Church, 470 Westchester Avenue, Crestwood, NY. Burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.
In her senior year at Maria Regina, Clare met Robert E. Sohr, a college freshman, and they were together ever since. On August 10, 1963, Bob and Clare married in St. Peter’s Church in Yonkers. She gained two loving sisters-in-law, Barbara Horree and Patricia Sohr, and brother-in-law, Fred Sohr.
Throughout the years, Clare nurtured her growing family, as the world’s most loving, patient, and caring mother to seven children and as a supportive wife to Bob. In 1966, the Sohr family moved into their first home in St. Barnabas Parish in Southeast Yonkers and lived there for many years, living close to Clare’s sister and her husband, Sheila and Eugene, and her mother “Nana.” Sheila, Eugene, and Nana were daily fixtures in their lives. In 1989, the Sohr family moved to St. Joseph’s Parish in Bronxville and lived there for many years. In 2018, Clare and Bob moved to Crestwood to be nearer to several of their children and grandchildren.
Clare was an involved member of the communities in which she lived and could often be found at the gym cheering on one of her children or grandchildren at a basketball game. Clare was a loyal friend to many, cherishing both her lifelong friendships and those she met along the way as she raised her children and as she enjoyed being an integral part of her grandchildren’s lives.
Clare was most affectionately known as Mom or Gurney. Mom took great pride in raising her seven children, hearing us all for countless tests, driving us to endless sporting events, and enjoying limitless laughs. Thirty-three years ago, Mom became a grandmother- our Gurney. She often proudly shared how her oldest grandchild dubbed her with the name Gurney- a unique name suited for such a dedicated grandmother whose love for her grandchildren could not be measured. Gurney could often be found with a family member enjoying a cup of tea, having a chat, and getting some news about what was happening in their lives. She genuinely cared about the major as well as the minor events in all of our lives. She welcomed a phone call or visit from anyone in the family and beamed when someone popped in unannounced for a visit. She cherished family vacations, countless laughs with the family, and the special occasions as much as the everyday life. Not a day went by without Gurney speaking to or seeing several children, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, or sons-in-law.
Gurney’s love for her family was so profound that it could be felt by all who knew her- and this love was clearly reciprocated by every single family member. Quite simply, Gurney was blessed by her family and her family was enormously blessed by her. She will be deeply missed.
Clare is survived by her husband and her seven children- Robert (Milly), Michael (Sheila), Jeanne (Daniel) Harrigan, John, Susan (Lee) Manning, Kevin (Lisa), and Katherine (Ronald) Jedlicka. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren- Elizabeth, Mary, and Timothy Harrigan, Katherine (Carlos) Petrovich, Caroline, Kevin, Brian, Alison, Kristen, Patrick, Anastasia and Katherine Sohr, Jane and John “Jack” Manning, Aidan, Ryan, and Molly Jedlicka, and one great-granddaughter, Grace Lambert. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. Clare was predeceased by her parents and her sisters, Eileen Forter and Sheila McCarvill.
Visitation will be held at Flynn Memorial Home, 1652 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers on Thursday, July 28 and Friday, July 29 from 4 to 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 30th at 10 am at Annunciation Church, 470 Westchester Avenue, Crestwood, NY. Burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.