Our British lady WREN completed her journey on August 18, 2022.
With sadness in our hearts and joy of having her so long in our lives we say a loving
goodbye to our mom, nanny, great-nanny, and friend.
Clara Semmens began her journey on September 26, 1924, in Sunderland, England.
She was the 4 th of 6 children of parents Mary and John Semmens. When she was seven
her family moved to the south of England. Clara was always adventurous and spunky.
She was under age when she joined the Women’s Royal Navy Service (WRENs) in
1941, having her sister sign the parental permission forms. She served at HMS
Daedalus Naval Airbase where she met a Canadian solder, George S. Bateman, during
preparations for D-Day. They married after the war and George returned to Canada in
Dec 1945.
Clara followed on the Queen Mary eight months later to become a farmer’s wife. At the
time the farm house in Springbrook had no electricity, no indoor plumbing, and only a
wood stove for cooking and heating. They had two children: John and Vicki. Clara was
resilient. She worked hard on the farm, learning to drive a tractor even though she never
obtained a driver’s license. Through difficult times and tragedy she persevered with
positivity. Her mantra was “tomorrow will be a better day”. After George’s death in 1978,
Clara took a Health Aide course from Loyalist College and worked at the Stirling Manor.
She was renowned for her antics and loving care.
Clara was a friend to all she met and was genuinely interested to learn about them. She
was a graceful petite lady who was witty, fun loving and continued her love of
adventurer travelling to Mexico, Europe, South Africa, Alaska and Britain.
In time, a gentleman, Jack Weatherell, came into Clara’s life. They married and were
able to travel across Canada and to Florida and enjoy being together at the Coe Hill
cottage. Jack passed away in 2011.
Clara resided on the farm in Springbrook, the community that embraced her as a
Canadian War Bride, for over 65 years. She was a lifetime member of the Royal
Canadian Legion Branch 228 Stirling where the members treated her with loving
respect. She enjoyed her Club 55 and Thursday seniors card games. In July, she was a
recipient of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pin.
Remembering Clara with love are Vicki & Mike (Stirling); John & Hang (Orillia); Chris &
Lyndsey (Ode-Medonte); Rob, Michele, Kieran, Aidan & Avery (Cleveland); Rodney,
Laura & Daphne (Kingston); Jon, Joshua (Truro) & Cheryl (Belleville); Elana & Al
(Winnipeg); and family members in England, South Africa, France and the USA.
As per her wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no service.
“Have a wee dram & remember her.”
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Clara’s memory to the Stirling Legion, PO
670, Stirling K0K 3E0 or to the building fund of our family church in Bonarlaw, St Mark’s
Anglican Church c/o D Vinnicombe, 310 Bronson Rapids Rd, Springbrook, K0K 3C0.
Read Less
Thursday August 18th 2022
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Clara Bateman Semmens Thursday August 18th 2022..
Décès pour la Ville:Stirling, Province: Ontario