Clara J. Van Driesche, 93, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 28, 2005, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
The rosary will be said Friday at 7 p.m. at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral. the Rev. Robert C. Irwin will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be today until 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Clara was born Feb. 12, 1912, at New Plymouth, Idaho, to James Carpenter and Irene Castles Carpenter. She was a 1930 graduate of New Plymouth High School. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper for the Golden Rule Department Store and then for White Hardware at New Plymouth.
She married Cyril Van Driesche on Feb. 24, 1938, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in New Plymouth. They lived their entire married life of 67 years in Baker City. Clara, with her husband Cyril, enjoyed 50 years of square dancing, playing bridge, and fishing. In her younger years she was active in church work.
Survivors include her husband, Cyril of Baker City; four brothers and two sisters, James Carpenter of Middleton, Idaho, Chester Carpenter of Eagle, Idaho, Donald Carpenter and his wife, Iris, and Bill Carpenter and his wife, Barbara, all of Meridian, Idaho, Evelyn Peterman of Meridian, Idaho, and Mary Cook and her husband, Jim, of Boise; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Russell and Francis; and two sisters, Dorothy and Eleanor.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis de Sales or the American Heart Association through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 1, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
