Clara “Chad” Lear, 101, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 in Wallingford, PA. She was born on January 28th, 1921 in Darby, PA. She was the daughter of the late William and Margaret Flanagan. Chad graduated from Collingdale High School with the class of 1937 where she was a member of the Alumni Association. She was also a parishioner of St. John Chrysostom Church in Wallingford since 1953.
Chad worked at the Wallingford Swarthmore School District as a baker for over 30 years and retired and was employed by Williamson Trade School in Media, PA and became a dorm mother for the stell dorm. Following her retirement, she enjoyed being with family and friends and had a wide variety of interests including reading, sewing, upholstering, creating stained glass, and was a taxidermist.
Chad was also a gold star mother to the late PFC Richard David Lear, USMC who served in the Vietnam Conflict in 1969 and is survived by his son Richard Cutler
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her children, James Patrick Lear and Richard David Lear; siblings, Margaret “Sis” Schnatz, Alice Aurig, Elizabeth “Betty” Bailey, William “Bill” Flanagan, Sandra “Big Sand” Longenecker
She is survived by her children, John Gary Lear (Pamela), Sandra Daley (Robert), Gail Orlando (John), Kathleen Foote (William), Jacqueline Lear O’Melia (David); sister, Mary Ida DiVirgilio (Butchie); 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren; longtime friend of the late Dr. J. McCadden and Jean McCadden.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to CBVI, the Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 100 W. 15th St. Chester, PA 19013. Her funeral mass will be celebrated on a yet to be determined date in the Fall.
Clara “Chad” Lear, 101, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 in Wallingford, PA. She was born on January 28th, 1921 in Darby, PA. She was the daughter of the late William and Margaret Flanagan. Chad graduated from Collingdale High School with the class of 1937 where she was a member of the Alumni Association. She was also a parishioner of St. John Chrysostom Church in Wallingford since 1953.
Chad worked at the Wallingford Swarthmore School District as a baker for over 30 years and retired and was employed by Williamson Trade School in Media, PA and became a dorm mother for the stell dorm. Following her retirement, she enjoyed being with family and friends and had a wide variety of interests including reading, sewing, upholstering, creating stained glass, and was a taxidermist.
Chad was also a gold star mother to the late PFC Richard David Lear, USMC who served in the Vietnam Conflict in 1969 and is survived by his son Richard Cutler
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her children, James Patrick Lear and Richard David Lear; siblings, Margaret “Sis” Schnatz, Alice Aurig, Elizabeth “Betty” Bailey, William “Bill” Flanagan, Sandra “Big Sand” Longenecker
She is survived by her children, John Gary Lear (Pamela), Sandra Daley (Robert), Gail Orlando (John), Kathleen Foote (William), Jacqueline Lear O’Melia (David); sister, Mary Ida DiVirgilio (Butchie); 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren; longtime friend of the late Dr. J. McCadden and Jean McCadden.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to CBVI, the Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 100 W. 15th St. Chester, PA 19013. Her funeral mass will be celebrated on a yet to be determined date in the Fall.