Clara Santarelli, 99, a resident of Plains Township, passed away surrounded by her loving family, on Friday evening, May 17, 2024, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, just four months shy of celebrating her 100^th birthday.

Her beloved husband was the late Marino Santarelli Jr. who passed away on August 15, 2014. Marino and Clara were blessed to share 68 years of marriage.

Born on September 23, 1924, in Wilkes-Barre, Clara was one of six children born to the late Cipriano Cipriani and Amalia Grosso Cipriani.

Raised in Wilkes-Barre, Clara attended the former G.A.R. Memorial High School.

Prior to her retirement, Clara was employed as a sewing machine operator for various garment factories.

A woman of faith, Clara was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Wilkes-Barre.

Clara was always more concerned about the people around her than she was of herself. She wanted everyone to be warm enough, comfortable enough, and, most of all, she always made sure you ate enough – never allowing anyone to leave her home hungry or go to bed hungry!

In addition to her parents, Cipriano and Amalia Cipriani, and her husband, Marino, Clara was preceded in death by her brothers, Raymond Cipriani and Rinaldo Cipriani; and her sisters, Laura Pascolini, Millie Dunkleburger, and Albina Saracino.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Yvonne Kozemko and her husband, Mark, with whom Clara resided with in Plains Township; her two grandsons, Jason Kozemko and his wife, Patty, Plains Township; and Ryan Kozemko and his wife, Jessica, Plains Township; her three great-granddaughters, Ava Kozemko, Samantha Sepko, and Stephanie Sepko; and her many nieces and nephews. Additionally, Clara will be sorely missed by her many grand-puppies and grand-kittens.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Clara’s viewing which will be held on Friday, May 24, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

Clara’s funeral service will begin with a second viewing on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 97 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, with her funeral service to commence at 11:00 AM. The Reverend Dr. Robert M. Zanicky, her Pastor, will be the celebrant.

Entombment will follow in the Denison Cemetery Garden Mausoleum, Swoyersville.

To share a memory of Clara or message of condolence with her family, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Clara’s memory to the SPCA of Luzerne County, 524 East Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18702.