Clare Cruce

Clare Cruce passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 16, 2021. Known affectionately as Mom or Nana, Clare's faith has become sight as she is now residing in her heavenly home in the presence of Jesus, a place she has longed for all of her life!

Clare is survived by her three children, Jan (Dave) DeK.lavon, Susan (Willie) Woodham, and Michael (Peggy) Cruce. Beloved siblings, Charles (Cathy) Mullen, and Bette ( dearly missed Richard) Rowe. Much loved nieces, Gayla, Terri, Bette Lynn, Leisa, Heidi, and many great-nieces and nephews. She was Nana to the joys of her heart, her grandchildren: Adam and Barbara Weber, Stephen Woodham, Kyle and Annie Weber, Michael and Laura Cruce, Randi and Coley Sanford, Amanda Cruce, Austin and Monica Cruce, Great-grandchildren: Darien, Phoebe, Emily Joy, Kathryn Elizabeth, Karter, Riley Anne, and Lincoln Charles.

In Clare's early years, she was a licensed manicurist at Art Mode on Mt. Brook Circle, worked in a millinery store in downtown Birmingham, and sold movie tickets at The College Theater. She also enjoyed being a student at her beloved Woodlawn High School.

After high school, Clare attended Wheeler Business College where she met the love of her life, Neal Cruce. They married in 1953. They moved to Florida shortly before their first child was born, and remained there for 38 years, raising their family and serving the Lord before returning to Birmingham in 1994.

Clare always told everyone she loved her children fiercely--and she did! She was an excellent seamstress and would sew beautiful clothes for them. When they were in school, Mom made sure they would have a snack on the table when they came home. It was usually Ants on a Log ( celery with peanut butter and raisins stacked on top of the peanut butter to look like ants) or carrot sticks.

Friday night was treat night; no fat or calories were counted! And the kids in the neighborhood loved Mom, too. Everyone loved to play in the yard as Mom was welcoming and would bring fresh pitchers of Kool Aid for all of them when they would play hard in the warm and humid South Florida weather. Mom was nicknamed the "Kool-Aid Mom."

Mom never missed any event in which her children were involved. She would let others in the audience know who her babies were! And to this day, she still called Jan and Susan her baby, and Michael, my boy! Her children truly were and always will be her life, and what brought her the most joy any time she could be with them!

Clare also deeply loved the Lord and would share His love with others. Her favorite chapter in the Bible was Psalm 91. She called this passage her 9-1-1 call whenever she would pray for traveling mercies, job situations, emergencies, or health needs for anyone in her family, or her friends.

For the most part, Clare enjoyed good physical health until the last six months of 2020. We as a family would like to thank the entire wonderful staff of the Springs Manor Assisted Living Unit at the Village of Cook Springs for making her last 3 1/2 years of life some of her happiest ever!

Clare loved playing Bingo, Trivia, Noodle Ball, and going on outings before COVID restrictions ceased off-campus activities. The entire Springs Manor Staff always made her feel much loved, and they always went the extra mile for her, especially when her health began to fail.

We would also like to thank the great staff on Woodland Way at The Village Of Cook Springs who took care of our Mom in her final few months on this side of heaven. We appreciate our Healthcare Angels!

Clare was a member of North Park Baptist Church, and we express our appreciation and thanks to the Pastoral Staff, Deacons, and Homebound Ministry, who constantly stayed in contact with Mom in the years since losing Dad. The many cards, weekly bulletins, phone calls, and visits were a huge blessing to her.

Clare was also a member of the Tele-Bible phone-in Sunday School Class at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, home church of Jan and Dave. Our family also thanks The Jubilee Class at Highview for the hundreds of cards they sent her over the past 6 years. She read, saved, and cherished each one!

As a Stage 2 colon cancer survivor, Clare was a regular contributor to the Adam's Pantry Food Ministry. This ministry provides free, round the clock soups and snacks for cancer patients at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, Ky.

Memorial gifts can be sent to North Park Baptist Church, 5700 Deerfoot Parkway, Trussville, AL 35173, or Adam's Pantry Ministry c/o Highview Baptist Church, 7711 Fegenbush Lane, Louisville, KY 40228

The family will receive friends at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home on Thursday, January 21st, 2020 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Funeral services will be held in the chapel at 12:00 p.m. with burial to follow in Jefferson Memorial Gardens East .

*****1 Corinthians 13:12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.*****