Clara C. Johnson
September 8, 1943 – March 19, 2024
Clara C. Johnson, 80, a lifelong resident of Milan, passed away on March 19th, 2024, at her Milan home with her husband Eric holding her. She was born on September 8th, 1943, in Rhinebeck to the late Theodore E. Barth and K. Margaret (Behrens) Barth.
She attended Red Hook Central School and matriculated at Albany State Teacher’s College (now known as U Albany) where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree with a major in English and minor in Philosophy. Continuing her education at ASTC she earned her Master’s degree in English. After teaching for a few years, she settled on a career in banking at The First National Bank of Red Hook where she formed many friendships.
On June 20th, 1981, Clara married Eric Johnson in Rhinebeck, NY. Eric survives at their Milan home. In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her son Mark (Chelsea) and granddaughter Iris of Palenville, NY, along with numerous extended family.
Clara’s amazing devotion to Mark’s upbringing was shown by the many activities that she sought out for Mark’s betterment. Homeschooling Mark was a major passion of Clara’s. Adjunct to homeschooling were many kinds of field trips (including to many local businesses), physical education at the YMCA in Kingston and attending cultural events.
Clara’s many interests included studying and sharing what she learned about alternative medicine, hospitality to family and friends at her home, photography and recording video of family events. Clara could not be happier than when she was preparing varied and delicious vegetarian meals followed by serving them to family and friends in her home. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinners were particularly a joy to her. She also delighted in caring for and feeding her many cats over the years. As long as human or animal was eating, Clara was happy.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 10AM at Clermont Town Hall, 1795 US Route 9, Germantown, NY 12526.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to the Columbia Greene Humane Society, 111 Humane Society Road, Hudson, NY 12534 and/or AnimalKind, 72 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 7461 South Broadway Red Hook, NY 12571, (845) 758-5042.
