Ethel was born Aug. 6, 1919, the identical twin sister of Evelyn. They were abandoned on the steps of an orphanage in New Jersey, where she remained until the age of 42, working as a maid.
Ethel and Evelyn’s birthday, Aug. 6, was selected by the folks at the orphanage “because there were no holidays in August.”
While driving through Quartzsite, Ariz., Ethel was offered a job as a waitress. She accepted and stayed. Ethel stated, “This is where my life began.”
At age 57, she met Bill Clendenen on his 75th birthday, gave him a kiss and shortly after became Mrs. Bill Clendenen and they moved to Safford, Ariz. “At last,” she said, “I have a family.” She loved Bill dearly and tirelessly nursed him for the next seven years until his passing in 1980.
She continued to live in Safford, busying herself with various acts of service, volunteering at the Safford Senior Center and helping at and cleaning her church. Besides her tribute of always loving and selflessly caring for others, she had an “award winning” skill of tatting.
“Just how many miles of lace she tatted and gave away we’ll never know,” said her family.
Along with family and tatting, children and animals were always dear to her, being forever a child at heart herself.
In Safford she was often referred to as the “cat lady,” where she remained until June 1, 2002. After having a major stroke she moved to Homer to live with her granddaughter, Sandy Miller, until her death in the predawn hours of Aug. 22, 2006.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bill Clendenen of Anchor Point; sister, Evelyn Oaks; son-in-law, Willy Chernoff; grandsons, Artie and Danny Chernoff of Quartzsite, Ariz.; and son, Larry Clendenen of Anchor Point.
She is survived by her daughters, Betty Miller and husband Ralph, of Homer, and Shirley Chernoff of Quartzsite, Ariz.; daughter-in-law, Inez Clendenen of Anchor Point and Safford, Ariz.; four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many great-great-grandchildren, who loved her dearly.
While in Homer she found a special joy and belonging at the Homer Senior Center day care, where a memorial was held in her honor, 1 p.m., Aug. 26, 2006.
At 42, Ethel was asked to be a housekeeper for the man she later married. He soon lost everything he owned and as a result they headed “out west” to follow the fruit harvests. He and Ethel lived in their station wagon for years, just following the crops.
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