HLS 20RS-1419 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 26
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEVILLIER
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences on the death of Alvenia Clare
1 A RESOLUTION
2To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Alvenia
3 Clare.
4 WHEREAS, the members of the House of Representatives were saddened beyond
5measure upon receiving word that the grandmother of Attorney Ashleigh Clare-Kearney
6passed away on March 25, 2020; and
7 WHEREAS, Alvenia 'Joan' Clare was one of five children born to Amy Clare and
8was affectionately known by her family as "Cher"; and
9 WHEREAS, she was born on May 1, 1929 in Westmoreland, Jamaica where she
10lived until 1957; and
11 WHEREAS, Alvenia later moved to Luton, Bedfordshire, England where she had her
12one and only child, Diane Clare-Kearney in 1959; and
13 WHEREAS, Alvenia came to the United States of America in 1970 with nothing to
14her name, but she strongly desired to seek a better life for herself and her daughter, which
15she accomplished; and
16 WHEREAS, throughout her life she was a caretaker for the elderly, a housekeeper,
17a seamstress, and worked at Travelers; and
18 WHEREAS, Alvenia was a member and Deacon at Immanuel Congregational
19Church in Hartford, Connecticut for over thirty years; and
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HR NO. 26
1 WHEREAS, her hobbies included cooking Jamaican food for her family every night,
2watching soap operas, listening to church music, knitting, and spoiling her grandchildren;
3and
4 WHEREAS, Alvenia never put herself first and did everything in her power to ensure
5her daughter and grandchildren had all the tools necessary to achieve their goals; and
6 WHEREAS, she is responsible for her daughter earning her bachelors, master's, and
7Ph.D., and is the reason her granddaughter, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, is an attorney; and
8 WHEREAS, she was a woman of class, integrity, and wisdom, and courageously
9fought Alzheimer's Disease for eleven years; and
10 WHEREAS, in the last three years, she completely lost her independence, but she
11lived with her daughter who cared for her vigilantly until her passing; and
12 WHEREAS, the loss of Alvenia has left her family with a tremendous void; and
13 WHEREAS, she was truly the family's matriarch, and her loving and kind spirit will
14be missed dearly; and
15 WHEREAS, Alvenia 'Joan' Clare passed away on March 25, 2020 at the age of
16ninety after testing positive for COVID-19; and
17 WHEREAS, she is survived by her daughter, Diane Clare-Kearney, son in law, Craig
18Kearney, three granddaughters: Charissa Kearney, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, Teighlor Clare-
19Kearney, and a host of nieces and nephews; and
20 WHEREAS, her favorite song to sing to her granddaughters as they grew up happens
21to be Louisiana's State Song, "You Are My Sunshine".
22 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
23Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the
24death of Alvenia 'Joan' Clare and does hereby extend deepest sympathy and offer of hopes
25for comfort and peace in this time of sorrow.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
27to Ashleigh Clare-Kearney for the family of Alvenia 'Joan' Clare.
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HR NO. 26
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no
part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not
constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and
24:177(E)]
HR 26 Original 2020 Regular Session DeVillier
Expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of Alvenia 'Joan'
Clare.
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