ENROLLED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 26
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEVILLIER
A RESOLUTION
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Alvenia
Clare.
WHEREAS, the members of the House of Representatives were saddened beyond
measure upon receiving word that the grandmother of Attorney Ashleigh Clare-Kearney
passed away on March 25, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Alvenia 'Joan' Clare was one of five children born to Amy Clare and
was affectionately known by her family as "Cher"; and
WHEREAS, she was born on May 1, 1929 in Westmoreland, Jamaica where she
lived until 1957; and
WHEREAS, Alvenia later moved to Luton, Bedfordshire, England where she had her
one and only child, Diane Clare-Kearney in 1959; and
WHEREAS, Alvenia came to the United States of America in 1970 with nothing to
her name, but she strongly desired to seek a better life for herself and her daughter, which
she accomplished; and
WHEREAS, throughout her life she was a caretaker for the elderly, a housekeeper,
a seamstress, and worked at Travelers; and
WHEREAS, Alvenia was a member and Deacon at Immanuel Congregational
Church in Hartford, Connecticut for over thirty years; and
WHEREAS, her hobbies included cooking Jamaican food for her family every night,
watching soap operas, listening to church music, knitting, and spoiling her grandchildren;
and
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WHEREAS, Alvenia never put herself first and did everything in her power to ensure
her daughter and grandchildren had all the tools necessary to achieve their goals; and
WHEREAS, she is responsible for her daughter earning her bachelor's, master's, and
Ph.D., and is the reason her granddaughter, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, is an attorney; and
WHEREAS, she was a woman of class, integrity, and wisdom and courageously
fought Alzheimer's Disease for eleven years; and
WHEREAS, in the last three years, she completely lost her independence, but she
lived with her daughter who cared for her vigilantly until her passing; and
WHEREAS, the loss of Alvenia has left her family with a tremendous void; and
WHEREAS, she was truly the family's matriarch, and her loving and kind spirit will
be missed dearly; and
WHEREAS, Alvenia 'Joan' Clare passed away on March 25, 2020, at the age of
ninety after testing positive for COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, she is survived by her daughter, Diane Clare-Kearney; son in law, Craig
Kearney; three granddaughters: Charissa Kearney, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, and Teighlor
Clare-Kearney; and a host of nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, her favorite song to sing to her granddaughters as they grew up happens
to be Louisiana's State Song, "You Are My Sunshine".
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the
death of Alvenia 'Joan' Clare and does hereby extend deepest sympathy and offer of hopes
for comfort and peace in this time of sorrow.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Ashleigh Clare-Kearney for the family of Alvenia 'Joan' Clare.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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