Obituary of Grace Whitney Clarendon

Grace Whitney Clarendon passed away peacefully July 7th after a brief illness at Waveny Care Center in New Canaan. She was 93 years old. Born May 18th, 1919 in Darien, Grace lived for 57 years in a Whitney family home on Brookside Road built by her great uncle in 1870. She was married in 1943 to Henry Mowat Clarendon of Wilson Point, South Norwalk and New York City, N.Y. Grace was head teller at the Union Trust bank from 1956-1976. She was a founding member of the Good Wife's River Chapter DAR and presided as chapter Regent for several terms. She was an active member of the Darien Historical Society during it's formative years and was a member of the Mayflower Society. Grace served as a deacon of the First Congregational Church of Darien. She was also church historian. During that time she worked with the Rev. Ron Evans, Darien's Masonic Ivanhoe Lodge and the Historical Society to reclaim and restore the church's old graveyard at 320 Post Road, a cemetery that contains the gravestones of many of the town's founding families. Her love of Darien and it's history was recorded in several articles she wrote for the local paper tracing the Bates and Whitney families from Revolutionary times through the years they farmed the land surrounding Brookside Road. She also wrote her memories of a "golden childhood" growing up with her sisters and brother on Lakeside Avenue during the 1920's through the years leading up to WWII. Grace will be remembered for her enthusiasm and curiosity for life, her courage, wisdom and great love of family. She will also be remembered for her lovely, infectious laugh and sense of fun. She will be terribly missed. Grace is survived by her daughter, Anita Ledsinger and her son-in-law Charles Ledsinger Jr., both of Bethesda, Md. Also her grandchildren Leila Grace Ledsinger and Katherine Elise Ledsinger both of Washington, D.C., and her grandsons Todd Cumberland of Los Angeles, CA and Jack Henry Clarendon of Florida. Her son, Henry M Clarendon Jr., passed away in March 2011 in Omaha, Nebraska. There will be a private family interment at the Mather Cemetery in Darien. A memorial service at the First Congregational Church will be held at a later date. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820