Obituaries Week of Dec. 26, 2012

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CLARA MARIE WALICKI, SARAH CHANDLER, RACHEL B. ERWIN, MILDRED FRICKS

CLARA MARIE WALICKI
Clara Marie Walicki, beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister, grandmother, and friend passed away on December 16, 2012 in Greenville, SC after a short but valiant fight against infection. Clara resided in Pelzer, SC and was born on October 25, 1917 in Pineville, KY to Sarah Louise Hutchison and William Thomas Houser.
She married young and raised two sons, and later married Florian Chester Walicki in Maryland in the 1960s; and was stepmother to his four children. Together, they enjoyed a long and spirited life together – full of love, laughter, hard work, and tenacity. In their union, they lived in happiness in Brooklyn, NY; Liberty, SC; and Pineville, KY. Clara’s final years were lived in Piedmont and Pelzer, SC in the residence and care of family following a fire that resulted in the loss of her family’s home in Pineville, KY.
Clara was an enterprising woman with an incredible work ethic, fashion sense, and knack for anything creative. In her younger and more sprite years, she loved to sew, cook, and travel. One of her first jobs was at Beechnut Gum; and later, she and Florian owned their own café in NY. Perhaps her favorite and most enduring career legacy was as child care giver for many Brooklyn, NY children, for which she received many commendations by NY’s Department of Child Services. She was a passionate and spirited woman who both loved and fought vigorously with and for family. Her family has many fond memories of her spunk; celebrations in NY; adventuring the surrounding mountains of her childhood town; her love of Poodles and polyester; grandkids’ treasure hunting in her NY cellar; meals with her large sphere of siblings and extended family in KY; reunions with her family and the Walicki’s; her learning how to drive well enough to get her first license and car in her sixties; and the reams and reams of fabric that she would perform magic on to create blankets, communion gowns, dolls, etc. that she bestowed upon family and sold at area flea markets for supplementary income.
Clara was preceded in death by her husbands, parents, and siblings with the most recent being that in 2002 of her late husband, Florian. She is survived by her children Bill Wilder of Louisville, KY and Joseph Geneloni, Jr. of Pelzer, SC; and her step-children, Florian Walicki, Jr. of Denver, CO; Robert Walicki of Tacoma, WA; John Walicki of Seattle, WA; and Wanda Lee of Redmond, WA; as well as their respective spouses, children, and grandchildren. She was a grandmother of 18; and great-grandmother of 12.
Clara is now no longer suffering, and is in peace and reunion with her husband, siblings, and parents.
Her ashes will be set to final rest in Pineville, KY in 2013, alongside her husband and youngest sister. Memorial services were held on December 20, 2012 from 4-8pm at Rock Springs Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 310 Rock Springs Road in Easley, SC. Family received friends and condolences during this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are graciously accepted through the Cremation Society of South Carolina at (864) 233-7334, or at http://www.giveforward.com/helpoffsetcremationcostsforclarawalicki#.

SARAH CHANDLER
Sarah Margaret Smith Chandler, 88, of Belton, widow of John Aaron Chandler, died Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at AnMed Health Medical Center.
Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of the late T. and Etta Jordan Smith. She retired from Metric Shirt Corporation as vice president and attended Union Grove United Methodist Church.
Surviving are a daughter, Cheryl Davenport of Williamston; son, Johnny Randall Chandler of Belton; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
Funeral services were Friday, December 21 at Greenville Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.

RACHEL B. ERWIN
Jennie Rachel Bradberry Erwin, 87, of Belton, died Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at her home.
Born in Anderson, she was the daughter of the late Arnie Lee Bradberry and the late Eula Branyon Bradberry.
She was the wife of the late James Edward Erwin.
She was retired from Kroger Bakery.
Surviving are five sons, John Lee Erwin of Starr, Kenneth Erwin of Townville, Billy Erwin of Townville, Robert Erwin of Belton, and Jackie Erwin of Belton; two daughters, Peggy Davenport of Williamston and Carol Hester of Belton; grandchildren raised in the home, Robbie Allen and Brandon McClain; 18 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held Thursday, Dec. 20 at Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery in Starr.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.

MILDRED FRICKS
FOUNTAIN INN – Mildred Jane Spearman Fricks, 88, of 104 Knollwood Court, died Tuesday, December 18, 2012.
She was twice married, first to the late Rudolph Fricks, then to the late Nick Nichols.
Born in Oconee County, she was a daughter of the late Carl and Pauline Craig Spearman.  She was an entrepreneur and a member of Black Jack Church.
Surviving are daughters, Trudy Fricks of Laurens, Brenda Thompson (Wilton) of Fountain Inn, Debbie Black of Williamston; sons, “Buck” Fricks (Amy) of Pelzer, Billy Fricks of FL; eight grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren.
Visitation was held from 2:30-4:00 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012 at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
Funeral services followed at 4:00 pm in the funeral home chapel with Revs. Phil Witt and Roy Mill officiating.  Burial was in Pine Lawn Cemetery, Pelzer.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter, 301 University Ridge, Suite 5000, Greenville, SC 29601.
The family is at the home of Debbie Black, 100 Thomas Circle, Williamston, SC 29697.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com