Clara (“Clare”) Theresa Fisch entered peacefully into rest at home in Castro Valley, California on May 12, 2021. She was 98 years old.

Born January 24,1923 in South Bend, Indiana, to parents Hattie and John Lewandowski, Clara excelled in singing from an early age and performed as the lyric soprano lead in numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas at Washington High School, where she lettered in music. She studied voice and opera more intensely at Chicago-Roosevelt College with Professor Carl Mathes of Notre Dame University. Clara entered the work force in South Bend at age 18 at Wilson Brothers Haberdashery as a stenographer where she was known for the speed and accuracy of her typing and shorthand. She then worked as a secretary at Studebaker during WWII. In her early 20’s Clara moved to southern California and worked as a secretary in the script department of David O. Selznick Studios in Culver City, which was by far her most interesting job, as she routinely saw a number of the 1940’s movie stars on the lot.

Clara spent most of her adult life in California, which she considered her home, calling it “God’s country”. She curtailed a promising musical career to marry her sweetheart, Edwin, in 1947 and moved to northern California and become a full-time wife, mother and homemaker. She was employed as a secretary at the Naval Supply Center in Oakland before starting a family. In 1972, Clara and Edwin relocated to Houston for Edwin’s job with Shell Oil, but returned to California in 1985.

Clara’s faith and family were the most important things in her life. She was married to Edwin for 71 years and remained devoted to him, her family, the Catholic church and those less fortunate. She not only sang in a number of local choirs over the course of time, but served as a Eucharistic minister in church and to the homebound, was a member of St. Catherine’s Guild and the Third Order of St. Francis, as well as the St. Vincent de Paul Society and prepared meals for agencies which served the poor.

Clara was known for her kind and caring heart, as well as her keen sense of humor and personal style. She took pride in her appearance and could be considered somewhat of a “fashionista”.

Clara is survived by her children John Emery Fisch (Castro Valley) and Jennifer Marie Fisch-Lemp (Santa Rosa); grandchildren Jeffrey Scott Fisch, Joseph Michael Fisch, Paul Alan Fisch, Stephanie Clarisse Bjornstrom, and Sarah Marie Loud; great grandchildren Dylan Scott Fisch, Tyler Alan Fisch, Grace Marie Bjornstrom, Abigail Joy Fisch, Colton James Bjornstrom, James Michael Fisch and Rachel Marie Bjornstrom. Clara was preceded in death by her son Alan Jeffrey Fisch (2014) and husband Edwin Joseph Fisch (2019); and by sisters Helen Lewandowski (Langfeldt), Henrietta Lewandowski (Ervin) and brother Harry Lewandowski. Clara was mother-in-law to Diana Fisch (Las Vegas), Tina Fisch (Castro Valley), and George Lemp (Santa Rosa).

Clara will be greatly missed by her family and friends and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Visitation and a funeral Mass will both be held at Transfiguration Catholic Church in Castro Valley on Wednesday, May 19th. The visitation begins at 10 am in the church, followed by the funeral Mass at 11 am. Clara will be laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, CA. Memorial donations may be made in Clara’s name to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Transfiguration Catholic Church, Castro Valley.