Clara S Heldt

Clara S. Heldt, formerly of Dunellen, passed away peacefully on May 30th at the age of 96.

She was born in Plainfield on October 10, 1922 to the late Catherine and Michael Szulewski.

Clara was only 14 when her mother passed away and Clara assumed the role of “head of household” taking care of both her father and older brother, Edward. She graduated from Plainfield High School in 1941 and went to work as a secretary for Mack Truck.

In 1949, she married Stephen F. Heldt of Dunellen and soon started a family. She always said her kids were her life and she would do anything for them. She was a stay at home Mom and took great care of her husband and kids.

After the kids grew up, she went to work at the old “Al’s Deli” in Dunellen and absolutely loved it! Anyone who was anyone would pass through the deli and Clara loved talking to everyone. She was always recognized as “the lady from the deli”.

After her husband died in 1988, she started driving again and you couldn’t keep her home: She was quick to say “yes” to bingo, dining out, long rides and trips to Atlantic City.

Clara will truly be missed for always making family gatherings full of laughs and good times. Her family meals, highlighted by Kielbasa & Sauerkraut and homemade Golumpki, were legendary. “She and dad will always be the best parents ever. We couldn’t have been blessed with better ones”.

Clara was predeceased by her parents, her brother Edward and husband Stephen. She is survived by her “kids”, son Stephen J. and his wife Cathleen of Beesleys Point, NJ and daughter Susan Osborn & husband Lance of Somerville with whom she lived.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Joseph’s School for the Blind or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Friends may visit the family on Tuesday, June 4 from 11:00AM-12:00PM  at the Sheenan Funeral Home, 233 Dunellen Ave in Dunellen. A funeral mass will then be celebrated at 12:00pm at St. John's Catholic Church in Dunellen. Burial will follow at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in South Plainfield.

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