Clara A. Talbert

Clara A. Talbert, 77, of Warren, died January 15, 2011 at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. She was born June 22, 1933 in Warren, the daughter of Clyde C. and Bertha Grace (Cox) McMillin, and had lived in the Warren area all her life. Clara was a 1952 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. A member of Church at Warren, she had previously been a member of Christ Memorial Baptist Church. She enjoyed going for rides in the car, going to church, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Surviving are five sons: Roger Eugene of Champion, Richard Wayne of St. Clairsville, Jack Edward of Champion, Albert Glenn (Sarah) of Prince George, Va., and Robert Allen (Lucia) Talbert of Slidell, La.; three daughters: Terri Anne (Robb) Cole of Endwell, N.Y., Cynthia Diane (Patrick) Hartle of Warren Township, and Pamela June Hummel of Champion; thirteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one expectant great-grandchild; and two sisters: Vera Wilson of Warren, and Dorothy (Johnny) Cinq-Mars of California. Preceding her in death are her parents; her husband, William R. Talbert, whom she married March 18, 1956 and who died September 4, 2009; a daughter, Deborah Lynn Talbert; three brothers, Elden, Delbert, and Ralph McMillin; and three sisters: Leila Huntley, Helen Blazevic, and Ruth Chuhay. Funeral services are 12:00 noon Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at McFarland & Son Funeral Home, with Rev. David Natale of Church at Warren and Rev. James Dittmar of Warren Baptist Temple officiating. Interment will follow at Pineview Memorial Park. Friends may call 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Wednesday at the funeral home. Material contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 525 N. Broad St., Canfield, Ohio 44406. Arrangements are entrusted to McFarland & Son Funeral Services Company 271 North Park Avenue, Warren, OH 44481. Please visit www.mcfarlandfuneral.com to view this obituary and send condolences. EULOGY FOR MRS. CLARA A. TALBERT -- JANUARY 19, 2011 Our mother, Clara to some or Mrs. Talbert to others, if you had to sum up who she was, how would you do so? She was a quiet and timid woman on the outside. Yet inside, she was a strong woman and a fighter. From the moment of birth, months premature, she fought to enter this world and to stay alive. She made her statement clear that she was strong and a fighter. After graduating from high school, she fought against stereo-typing by getting into business school, a direction in education not many or if any of the woman in her family at that time dare venture into. Marrying and bringing nine children into this world, it took a strong woman, a strong mother, to raise so many children. But you never heard her complain about the struggles and challenges she endured while raising us nine children. As we fast forward to the latter part of her life, she again displayed her inner strength and that fighter spirit of hers as she battled with cancer over the last ten plus years. However, she did not complain nor let the challenges of life stop her from enjoying the lives of her family or us children and the families we begun. Recently, she spent time with two of her closes nieces talking for several hours reminiscing about happier times growing up. She would break out in laughter so hard it made her cry. These were tears of joy, not of sadness or pain. Over this last year, she summed the strength to travel to visit our families and to enjoy time with our spouses and her grandchildren and great grandchildren while enduring the rigors of radiation treatment and chemo-therapy. She traveled to Las Vegas to see one of her grandchildren get married and start his family. Our mother was truly a strong woman. In her last days at the hospital, we could see in her face the pain and discomfort she was enduring. But my mother, strong and quiet, did not cry out in pain. When asked if she needed the doctor to give her more pain medicine, she repeatedly replied that she would ask for it later. This was typical of her character that she displayed over her lifetime. She was a quiet and timid woman on the outside, but inside she was strong and had a fighting spirit. Mom, although you were a quiet person, we hear the statement you made. Be strong in times of hardship and do not let such challenges stop you from enjoying the love ones around you. One last thing, a special thanks to our family members, brother-in-law, and family friends who helped our mother over the years as she battled cancer. Those of us family members who live too far to have been here on a daily or weekly basis we sincerely appreciate the support you provided our mother. Special memories of our mother from our sister: Mom was a very meek and humble person. She would put others first before herself. Mom was a devoted wife to her husband. Mom was a devoted mother to her children. She cherished her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of her dying wishes was to see all of her children before she would pass on. She got this wish. A UNIQUE WOMAN SHE CAN DEAL WITH STRESS and CARRY HEAVY BURDENS SHE SMILES WHEN SHE FEELS LIKE SCREAMING and SINGS WHEN SHE FEELS LIKE CRYIN. SHE CRIES WHEN SHE’S HAPPY and LAUGHS WHEN AFRAID AND HER LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL… THERE’S ONLY 1 THING WRONG WITH HER… SHE FORGETS WHAT SHE’S WORTH and WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, UNIQUE WOMAN SHE IS TO US ALL!!!!!! MOM, WE WILL MISS YOU and ALWAYS KEEP YOU IN OUR MEMORIES… LOVE ALWAYS, YOU’RE CHILDREN

Clara A. Talbert

June 22, 1933 - January 15, 2011