Obituaries

Anita Caroline Joanne Clark, née Alsen, passed away at the age of 73 on June 27, 2021, at 5:30 AM with her daughter, Andrea Mary Ahlsén, at her side holding her hand. Anita was under hospice at Granite Creek Long Term Care in Prescott, AZ. after residing within the home’s care for approximately 14 months since her diagnosis with dementia due to multiple sclerosis (MS).

Prior to her diagnosis, Anita shared a home with her loving husband Clarence “Chuck” Clark in Cordes Lakes, AZ. whom she has been with since they married in 1974. She enjoyed reading the local newspaper, engaging in community events, collecting rocks, loved spoiling her dogs, enjoying visiting her sister Carlana and family in California, visiting with her best friend Mary Jones in Cave Creek Arizona, and collecting beautiful plants and antiques for her property that overlooked the desert and the mountains in Yavapai County, AZ.

Anita was the first-born child of her parents, Stanley and Wanda Alsen and born on July 4, 1947, in St. Charles, IL. As a child, Anita resided with her parents and her siblings, brother Donald and sister Carlana, at the family residence located at 50 Horne Street. Anita was a bright student and attended the St. Charles schools and ultimately graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s Academy for Girls, Class of ‘65. After having her first and only child, Anita enrolled in school and earned a degree in geology at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. Throughout her career, Anita held many successful roles including a multi-million-dollar real estate agent for JW Reedy, a paramedic for the fire department in St. Anne, IL., and eventually Anita taught craft classes focusing on macrame for home and wear. Anita won multiple awards for her craft work through counties in Illinois and the local 4H functions.

Anita’s home was filled with love from her devoted husband of nearly 47 years, Clarence (Chuck) Clark and her numerous dogs whom she spoiled selflessly. The couple resided in Illinois for quite some time after their marriage in December of 1974 and continued their lives together in Cordes Lakes, Arizona.

Surviving family members include: Clarence “Chuck” Clark, loving husband and partner, Cordes Lakes, Arizona, Andrea Mary Ahlsén (William Telesco), daughter, formerly of St. Charles, IL and now Arizona City, AZ., Carlana (Andrew) Maduza, sister, of San Diego, CA, Jaclyn Maduza, niece, of San Diego, CA, Donald Alsen (Eileen), brother, of Palatine, IL, Dana Alsen, niece, of Palatine, IL, Jeff Clark, brother-in-law, of Winfield, IL., Jason Clark, nephew, of Wheaton, IL, David Clark, nephew, of Wheaton, IL, and Kathie Clark, niece, of Winfield, IL., John Atherton, first cousin, of Portland, OR., Kay Clark, sister-in-law, of Whittier, CA. and Gail Clark, sister-in-law, of Mt. Morris, IL., Mark (Marcia) Szewczyk, first cousin, of Naperville, IL., Conrad (Teri) Szewczyk, first cousin, of Chicago, IL., Michael Szewczyk (Sue) of Columbia, MO,  Celeste (John), first cousin, of Arlington, VA, Claudia (Stan) Streeter, first cousin, of Wyoming, OH., and Marcia (John) Burkart, first cousin, of Winston-Salem, NC.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Wanda (nee Kopala) Alsen, her Uncle Robert “Bob” Atherton and Aunt Martha “Marty” Atherton (Alsen), her paternal grandparents David and Edla Alsen, her maternal grandparents Anthony and Anna Kopala, her nephew Jonathan Maduza, her aunt Florence Szewczyk, her uncle, Casmir Kopala, her father-in-law, Joseph Levi Clark, and her mother-in-law, Delta Ruth Clark.

Anita maintained her deep relationships with her St. Charles, Illinois childhood friends and had her “besties” around her, Mary Jones, Kathy Johnson, and Phyllis Cronsell. Mary (Doug) Jones of St. Charles, IL. and Cave Creek, AZ was her longest and closest friend of over 60 years.  Anita really enjoyed her girl’s day out, tea, and shopping at the Little Traveler in Geneva, IL. as well as taking trips with the girls. She celebrated the marriages of her friends’ children and their children in full regalia.

The allure of the Southwest was great for Anita based on her collegiate days at NAU. Anita had a strong connection with the Southwest part of the United States, loving the state of Arizona. She studied and collected native jewelry focused on unique turquoise and antique silver pieces from native artisans. With her geological background, Anita also enjoyed collecting rocks and semi-precious stones. Anita immensely adored her home in the mountains in Yavapai County, Arizona along with Chuck and their dogs, flowers, succulent plants, and all the critters that come with the desert. Finally, Anita was an avid reader of history and political books as well as scientific magazines and periodicals.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 12, 2021, from 4-8 P.M. at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 East Main Street, St. Charles Illinois, 60174, (630) 584-0060. The funeral and Catholic mass will be held on July 13, 2021, at 11:00A.M. at St. Patrick Church, 400 Cedar Street, St. Charles, Illinois, 60174, (630) 338-8000. Interment services will be held at Union Cemetery on 5th Avenue. The procession of funeral cars and of attendee automobiles will go past the former childhood residence for Anita’s childhood home on Horne Street immediately after the funeral service and the caravan will return to the cemetery for Anita Clark’s final service and place of rest.

Donations in Anita Clark’s name may be placed with the St. Charles Historical Museum, 215 E Main St, St. Charles, IL. 60174 or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society online at: https://secure.nationalmssociety.org/.

Saint Patrick Catholic Church’s  Wi-Fi is undergoing refurbishment therefore the zoom service will not be available. The Funeral Mass will be recorded and will be made available shortly after.

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