- Date Of Birth: March 22, 1919
- Date Of Death: March 22, 2015
- State: Maine
Clara T. (Pulsoni) Valente
March 22, 1919
March 22, 2015
Gorham – Clara T. Valente of Westbrook, passed away on her 96th birthday, March 22, 2015 at the Gorham House. She was born in Portland on March 22, 1919, one of seven children of Frank and Rosaria (Miccarone) Pulsoni.
At the age of eight, her mother died, leaving behind seven children. Unable to care for all seven children, her father sent the three girls to St. Elizabeth’s Home for Girls on High St., run by the sisters of Mercy. It was at St. Elizabeth’s that her faith, commitment, and love of the Catholic religion became a part of her life. The loss of her mother at such a young age always weighed heavy on her heart and she was forever grateful for the love and charity the Sisters of Mercy showed her.
While at the home, the majority of her teen years were spent taking care of many children in the Portland area. She especially enjoyed the summers she, her sisters and the other girls from the home spent on Great Diamond Island.
In 1942 Clara married Thomas A. Valente, Sr. While, her husband was away during World War II, Clara went to work at the South Portland Shipyard, helping to build the Liberty ships. When her husband’s ship, the West Point, was at port in New York City, she would travel to see him. These trips were some of the fondest and most exciting memories in her life.
In 1944, Clara gave birth to Thomas A. Valente, Jr. Four years later, she gave birth to a daughter, Patricia Marie, who died at four days old. The loss of her daughter was a silent sadness in her life and was probably a large reason for her love of children. Clara always helped the underdog, always aiding those in need through her prayers. As she would say, “We all have our peccadillos.” And most, if not all her charitable gifts were given anonymously, in the spirit of love, not for praise.
Throughout her life, Clara stayed active. She had the experience of a lifetime when she traveled to Italy to meet her aunt and family. She was still shoveling snow at age 92! She always enjoyed her time with family.
