By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sister Clarence

DELHI TOWNSHIP - Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Clarence Sarnowski died April 2 in Mother Margaret Hall nursing home. She was 85.

Born Dorothy Sarnowski in Detroit in 1918, she was a Sister of Charity for 66 years.

Sister Clarence began her ministry in 1941 at Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse in Delhi Township and spent more than 40 years cooking for other sisters, hospitals and orphanages. She served at Sister of Charity-sponsored hospitals in Colorado; Michigan; Dayton, Ohio; and at St. Joseph Orphanage in Cincinnati from 1945 to 1960.

From 1964 to 1969, she cooked at the Motherhouse, and from 1978 to 1987 she cooked for the sisters who lived at the College of Mount St. Joseph.

"Sister made the best potato chip cookies," said Sister of Charity Marty Dermody. "She reminded me of my grandma. I always get a nice, warm feeling whenever I think about her."

In 1987, Sister Clarence began volunteering as Motherhouse receptionist. She moved into Mother Margaret Hall in the late 1990s.

Survivors include her sister, Theresa Sarnowski of Dearborn Heights, Mich., and a number of nieces and nephews.

Services have been held. Sister Clarence was buried in the Motherhouse cemetery.

Memorials: Sisters of Charity Retirement Fund, 5900 Delhi Road, Mount St. Joseph, Delhi Township, OH 45051.

E-mail: kandrew@enquirer.com.