Clara M. (Schroeder) Cavanaugh

Clara M. Cavanaugh

   MILLER CITY - Clara M. Cavanaugh, 85 of Miller City went to be home with Jesus at 8:54 a.m. Sunday, February 10, 2019 at The Meadows of Ottawa. She was born February 12, 1933 to the late Urban and Esther (Ellerbrock) Schroeder. She married Robert Cavanaugh on June 25, 1952.

   She is survived by three children, Steven (Joyce) Cavanaugh of Defiance, Christine (Timothy) Smith of Sylvania, and Shelly (Tony) Bendele of Wapakoneta; five grandchildren, Ashlee Smith, Amber (Christian) Clasper, Nicholas Smith, Andrew Bendele, and Aimee Bendele; three great-grandchildren, Payton, Lily, and Violet Bendele; two brothers, John (Janet) Schroeder and Carl Schroeder; and one sister, Mildred Schulte. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Diane; a grandson, Adam Bendele; five brothers, Gerald, Daniel, Eugene, Robert, and infant Bernard; and three sisters, Dorothy, Irene, and Eileen. We hope there will be a table big enough so they can all play cards together again.

   In 1958, she and her husband, Bob began a business with a nutritionalist supplement company called Nutrilite. An avid nutritionalist this business was perfect for her and her family. Later they were introduced to two gentleman just beginning their own company called Amway. During all these years as the Amway lady she and Bob saw many of their dreams fulfilled. They won countless trips to beautiful places like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the Virgin Islands. As we all know these were special places to her especially since they were warm! Clara was well known as the Amway lady to most who knew her. To her family and close friends she was always "Cassie", to her grandchildren she was Gramma Purple or Gramma "C". Her great-granddaughters fondly called her Gramma kisses.

   Clara's favorites were gardening and spending time with her family. For many years she and her brothers and sisters gathered together once  a month for what they called "Schwein Hund" to play card games and dice. More recently she has enjoyed "crazy lady day" when many family gathered to have lunch and play dice or bingo.

   Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at LOVE-HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Leipsic with Rev. Ben Geiser officiating. She will be laid to rest in Holy Family Cemetery, New Cleveland where she will join her daughter Diane. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home.

   Donations may be made to Putnam County Home Care and Hospice who has lovingly cared for her in her last year.

   Condolences can be expressed at: www.lovefuneralhome.com.