Plan for the Future
**Click here to view Committal Service Live Stream at 11:00am Thurs., Dec. 31, 2020**
Clementine D. Guarnera , 96, lovingly known to her family as ” Granny Clem,” formerly of Brooklyn , NY and for the past six years of Short Hills, NJ, died peacefully in her sleep at home surrounded by family on December 28, 2020. Clementine was born on June 23,1924. She was married for 25 years to Salvatore F. Guarnera, a Professional Civil Engineer until his death in 1973. Early in their marriage , they traveled to Turkey and Spain where they lived for two years, where Salvatore was engaged professionally supervising the building of airports and dams. It was a period in her life which Clementine adored and often liked to speak about, recounting stories of her experiences there with her young family.
Clementine loved school as a child. It was her favorite place to be. It was her dream to become a teacher, which she realized. She attended Bay Ridge High School, went on to Brooklyn College for her undergraduate degree in French Language with a minor in music and then attained a Masters Degree in Education from New York University, at a time when this was not common for women. She also received a scholarship to study French at Laval University in Quebec, Canada. She then went on to take thirty credits past her Master’s degree. She loved words, books and dictionaries. Clementine passionately loved her career as a teacher of French language for five years at the Ecole Francais private school in Manhattan and as a fifth grade Elementary school teacher for thirty years in the New York City Board of Education. at P.S. 86 in Brooklyn , NY. At the age of eight, she asked to play the violin. During High School she was thrilled to be chosen to play with the New York City High School Orchestra. She loved music and was an excellent violinist, playing for many years in three community orchestras, the longest at the Kingsborough Community Orchestra in Brooklyn, NY. She went on to play in a String Quartet with other accomplished musicians and performed at various venues until the age of 90 . When she retired from teaching at the age of 67, she continued to pursue her love of learning and took college level courses , achieving nothing less than an “A”. Later, she also took additional courses in French , Shakespearean literature , Jewelry making and participated in two book clubs. She loved the library and was a frequent visitor there . Clementine was a lover of nature and took great joy at the beauty of birds, flowers and trees. She enjoyed cooking for her family and hosting holiday celebrations.
Family has always been the source of her greatest joy. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. Clementine was adored by her family and she played an integral role in all of their lives. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Drs. Diana and Gary Ackerley of Norwalk, Ct. , daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Bennett Silver, M.D. of Short Hills, NJ, Son and daughter-in-law ,Salvatore Guarnera, MD and Shelley Guarnera of Las Vegas, NV, Grandson, Scott (Carrie) Silver of Short Hills, NJ, granddaughter, Pamela (Michael) Horowitz of Short Hills, NJ, granddaughter Brooke Ackerley, granddaughter, Lauren Ackerley, granddaughter, Tatum Guarnera. Great-grandchildren, Paige, Tyler, Cole and June.
Donations in memory of Clementine D. Guarnera may be made to the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
