Obituary of Nellie Louisa Clarke

Nellie Louisa ( Collins) Clarke, 90, peacefully passed away on February 28, 2014, at the Life Care Center of Plymouth, where she had been a resident. Born on January 5, 1924 in Dagenham, Essex, England, she was the beloved daughter of the late Alfred and Alice Collins. She was the beloved wife of 64 years to the late Ronald N. Clarke. Nellie was the cherished mother to four children, Regina Clarke; Diana Clarke of Whitman, MA; Claudette Baker, and her husband, Donald, of Hanson, MA; and Ron Clarke, and his wife, Sharon, of Carver, MA. She was the beloved Nana toeight grandchildren whom she adored. Tammy, Ed, John, Jenna, Elye, Noelle, Jason and Jessi will miss her tea and “ toasted cheeses” forever. Nellie was also blessed with nine great-grandchildren and shared their lives. Eric, MacKenna, Michael, Colin, Sophia, T.J., Anna, Aria, and Zooey will carry her legacy forward, as will the new great-granddaughter expected in the Spring. Nellie also leaves her cherished niece, Marilyn Fraulini and her husband, Gene, of Everett, MA, and her family. Her cherished friend, Marge Brennan, of Ossipee, NH., also survives her. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, both in England and the United States. Nellie Clarke was born and raised in Dagenham. Essex, England, where she completed her education. She often spoke of her days as a young woman working in an armaments plant in London. Nellie witnessed history during the Battle of Britain as warplanes fought each other overhead. During the Blitz, she would tell of running to the subway tunnels to hide during the bombings, and the sound of sirens could still bring back those memories. She met a dashing young American airman as she played the piano for the troops in a London pub. She married Ronald Clarke on May 25, 1945, as the war drew to a close, and emigrated to the United States one year later, where she settled in Malden,MA. They later moved their family to Weymouth, MA where they lived for 45 years, finally settling in Plymouth 1992, to be closer to the ocean she so loved. In an amazing twist of fate, on the day she moved into the Life Care facility in 2011, she became roommates with Selena Fischer, another English war bride who came over on the exact same ship and voyage as Nellie. They became great friends, asthey shared their love of reading and Nellie’s love for the Boston Red Sox, watching every game. The family of Nellie Clarke would like to express their deep appreciation to the entire staff of the Life Care Center of Plymouth. For nearly three years, they treated Nellie with respect, dignity, and love, and for that, we will always be grateful. A Celebration of Life will be conducted by Reverend Edward Hardy on Thursday, March 6th at 11:00 am at the First Parish Church of Plymouth, followed by internment with her late husband at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to The Salvation Army, 8 Carver Street, Plymouth , MA 02360