Clara M. Parr, formerly of Oak Ridge, NJ, Middleboro, MA, and Walnutport, PA, passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Milford Manor Nursing Home in West Milford, NJ. She had recently turned 93. Clara was predeceased by her husband, Everitt R. Parr, son, Dennis A. Parr, son-in-law Frederick A. Giamerese, and her siblings, Mildred C. Zimmerman, Robert H. McOwan, Jr., and William A. Warne. She is survived by her daughters Nancy J. Giamerese of Monroe Twp., NJ, Connie M. Hueber and her husband Steven of Oak Ridge, NJ, and her sons, Kenneth R. Parr and his wife Carol of Succasunna, NJ, and Bruce E. Parr of Kenvil, NJ, and daughter-in-law Collette S. Parr of Las Vegas, NV. Clara was also the grandmother of Lisa M. Egan of Reston, VA, Robert A. Giamerese of Harrisburg, PA, Tracey A. Parr of Succasunna, NJ, Jennifer L. Parr and her partner Ralph Rodriguez, Sr., of Newton, NJ, Jason J. Provino and his wife Megan of Columbus, OH, Ashley L. Hueber of Oak Ridge, NJ, and Nicole L. Schulman and her husband Adam of Kirkland, WA. She also leaves behind 9 great-grandchildren - Kyle and Will Giamerese, John Walter Egan, Ella and Henry Schulman, Max and Jack Provino, and Ralph, Jr. and Thomas Rodriguez of Newton, NJ.

Clara was born to Clara Willetta Brill and Robert Henderson McOwan, Sr. in Cedar Grove, NJ, in 1924 and lived her early life in that area. She enjoyed horseback riding as a young woman and could ride English saddle style.  She met her future husband Everitt (Pete) Parr through her brother Robert, who was Everitt’s coworker. After marrying and living in Washington, DC, during Everitt’s service in the US Army, they settled in Pompton Lakes for a number of years before moving to the Milton/Oak Ridge area in the 1950’s. The couple partnered with Everitt’s cousin Clarence and his wife Mary to purchase and renovate a two-family circa 1820’s house in Milton. They became local celebrities when they hired house movers to relocate the large 175-ton home 75 feet from its original position on the property in the 1970’s.

Clara was a homemaker and also served a unique role in her town’s history, receiving emergency alerts from the police in her home via telephone and activating the fire siren for the firehouse across the street. She was also a member of the Milton First Aid Squad in the early 1960’s. Later she ran a ceramics studio in her home for a period time. 

Both Clara and Everitt enjoyed family vacations and travelled by car with camp trailer in tow to most of the United States, including a nationwide 6-week tour by trailer with 4 of the children and the family dog. The Parr’s were heavily involved with American Legion Post 423, and Clara served in several official capacities, such a President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary, and managed their kitchen for events held there. She was also responsible for the decoration of several beautiful parade floats for the Legion. 

The couple moved to Massachusetts for Everitt’s work and continued their commitment to the American Legion before retiring to their home in Lehighton, PA. Clara maintained a home in Walnutport, PA, after her husband’s passing before moving to Kenvil, NJ, in 2015. 

She will always be remembered for her creativity, fashioning her kids’ Halloween costumes out of whatever she had on hand, sewing clothing for her children and granddaughter Ashley, crocheting blankets, dolls, and other items, and her love of a good bowl of vanilla ice cream almost every evening, for her sacrifices to be sure her children had what they needed, and her mischievous sense of humor.

Calling hours will be at from 12:00 Noon to 1:00pm on Tuesday November 7, 2017 at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street Hackettstown NJ 07840 with the funeral services beginning at 1:00pm. The burial will take place after the funeral service at Union Cemetery, Hackettstown NJ. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Cochran Funeral Home and those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.cochranfuneral.com/