Clarice Lichtenberg | 86 | Roodhouse
Happy First Birthday in Heaven! Former Roodhouse Resident Clarice Lichtenberg will celebrate her first birthday in heaven as she was suddenly absent from her body and immediately was called home to heaven to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was born to Cora and Leo Dameron. At a young age she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Later she received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Her life exemplified her name meaning “Famous and bright as the dawn”. She brought sunshine and brightness with her positive attitude and contagious laughter. Her mother and sister taught her to sing “You are My Sunshine” at an early age.
Clarice was a vivacious beauty and in high school served as a cheerleader all 4 years. She was elected to be Captain cheerleader her senior year. Music was always very important throughout her life. She sang in church, school, college and adult choirs. She loved to swim, sing, dance, play the piano and enjoy good clean fun. She graduated with a B. S. Degree in Speech Therapy. Clarice taught at Roodhouse High School while living with her parents when they owned the Dameron Sheltered Care Home in Roodhouse.
Clarice married Larry Lichtenberg and together they had one child, Juliebelle. Later the family moved to Arizona. Their close ties with friends and family spanned time and distance. Many fond memories were reminisced over meals. A strong love for the communities of Roodhouse and Patterson was instilled in her early as a child and continued until the day she died.
Clarice enjoyed a fascinating fun-filled life with adventurous opportunities from mountain climbing to exploring everything Arizona had to offer. She worked as a Speech & Language Pathologist in elementary schools in Phoenix and was known as “Mrs. Clarice” to her students. She obtained official proclamations from Arizona governors for Patriotic events and Good Speech and Hearing Month. She received the “Educator’s Medal” from the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge for teaching her students patriotism.
Volunteering and giving back to her community was always important to her. Clarice was known as a Christian patriot who promoted love of God and country. She was a Children’s Church Choir Director for 15 years and in the Pastoral Care department at her church, Chaplain for her DAR Chapter for 8 years, and DAR State Constitution Week Chairman for many years. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for over 40 years. She and her daughter were part of a delegation that met with President Ronald Reagan at the White House where he proclaimed the first National Patriotism Week. She also wrote, directed the Official Bicentennial Commission musical called “Arizona’s Heritage Blessed by God Pageant” performed at Phoenix Symphony Hall. She was featured in a local paper describing her as a patriotic person who loves and loyally and zealously supports her country. Her relative President Abraham Lincoln would have been very proud of her!
Clarice was a true Proverbs 31 woman, her price far above rubies. She touched many lives with her Christian ethics, enthusiastic, positive, sweet personality. Her theme was “A better America begins with me.” To her husband, Clarice will forever be remembered as Mrs. Baby, the beautiful girl who was poetry in motion, with a beautiful smile, who brought sunshine in his life and all that she met. They were soul mates together in marriage for 59.5 years. To her only beloved child, she was a nurturer, spiritual counselor and best friend. She was gracious, kind and an anonymous contributor to people and causes. Her legacy lives on in her family and the many friendships she made. We miss her very much and can never repay all that she did. Our blessed hope is knowing that we will see her again in heaven.
Funeral services to celebrate her life were held in Phoenix. She was buried in Pinetree Cemetery in Patterson, IL next to her beloved mother.
