Clarice Tavenner

Obituary of Clarice Jean Tavenner

                                             Obituary for Clarice Tavenner 6/11/20

 

 

Clarice Jean Tavenner – Born January 26, 1931, Died June 11, 2020 at the age of 89 years old.

 

Clarice Jean Tavenner passed peacefully on Thursday, June 11, 2020 after a battle with cancer in Charlotte, NC; her family and friends will miss her.

 

Mrs. Tavenner was born in St. Johns, Michigan to the late John Brink and Amber (Schaefer) Brink.  She grew up in Lansing, Michigan with her two younger brothers, Elton Brink and Dallas Brink.   She graduated from Everett High School.  After graduation, Clarice attended Michigan State University, and enjoyed her time as an active member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority where she was known as “Clink”.  Later, she became a flight attendant for TWA (Trans World Airline) and shortly after met her husband of 50 years, Paul Tavenner.   She and Paul were active Spartan sports fans.

 

In 1955, after marrying Paul, they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.   There, they welcomed two daughters Susan and Anne.  In 1966, she and Paul settled in Okemos, Michigan to raise their family.   Clarice was an active volunteer in her children’s school and extracurricular activities.  She was an avid gardener, and took great pride in her flowers and plants that were the envy of the neighborhood.  Known for her superior baking skills, with frequent requests for apple pie, sheet cakes, cookies, and fruit preserves.  When she wasn’t taking care of her girls, she could be found sitting behind her sewing machine making her girls clothes, Halloween costumes, holiday outfits, and home decor.  As her family grew, she had a short career in real estate with a local realty company in Okemos.

 

Clarice loved to entertain and made friends wherever they moved.  In 1980, she moved to Plano, Texas, where she played tennis and was involved with the newcomers group in the growing Dallas suburb.  Following Paul’s career path, the empty nesters moved to Madison, Wisconsin and then retired to Anderson, SC on Lake Hartwell.  Clarice and Paul enjoyed boating, tennis, and supporting the St Andrew Catholic Church in Clemson, SC.

 

After Paul passed away in 2005, Clarice moved to Sun City Carolina's community located in Ft. Mill, SC. She continued to be active at church, by administering Holy Communion to housebound church members and putting her skills to work as “church mouse” at St. Matthew's Catholic Church.  Retirement life in Sun City kept her busy with tennis, gardening, and community socials.

Her grandchildren were her pride and joy.  It was always a treat when they came to visit Grandma on the lake.    She was blessed to live near two of her grandchildren and enjoyed attending their soccer matches at Charlotte Catholic HS and Charlotte Soccer Academy.

 

Clarice is survived by her daughters, Susan Tavenner Quigley (Thomas) of Charlotte, NC, Anne Tavenner Altieri (Timothy Stultz) of Lexington, KY, Grandchildren, Matthew Altieri of Lexington, KY, Rory Quigley of New York, NY, Isabelle Altieri of Indianapolis, IN, Caelin Quigley of Charlotte, NC, Brother Dallas Brink of Lansing, MI, six nieces, six nephews, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

 

In observance of CDC COVID-19 guidelines, the family will hold a private internment service at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC

 

In her memory the family requests that donations be made to Catholic Charities, to support our local community in this time of need.  Donations can be mailed to Catholic Charities, Central Processing, 1123 S Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 or online at www.ccdoc.org/donate.

 

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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Hankins and Whittington Funeral Services
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