Clessie Sword

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Clessie Alberta Sword, a much-beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, who brought joy to all who knew her, left us to be with the Lord on January 18, 2022. 

Born Clessie Alberta Miller on September 23, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to Charles and Amanda Miller, Clessie grew up with her sister, Dorothy, and brother, Lee. When she was a teenager, Clessie met the love of her life, Gordon Axel Sword, and soon accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior, developing a profound and abiding faith in the Lord. 

Gordon gave Clessie the nickname "Cal," which was used by her family and friends for the rest of her life. The couple were married on September 25, 1948, and had their first three children, David, Larry, and Ruth, while living in Chicago. In 1959, the family moved to Bellflower, California, where they had two more children, Karen and Pamela. 

Clessie helped to support her family by working at the local Sav-on drugstore while Gordon held a position with Cerritos College. A hardworking mother of five, Clessie made sure her children always had a good lunch for school, a wonderful dinner to come home to, and plenty of love and support whenever they needed it. 

After they had both retired, Clessie and Gordon moved to their dream home in Hemet. With all their children grown and on their own, Clessie and Gordon lived happily together for many years, welcoming frequent visits from their family and friends, and they were blessed with many grandchildren, who loved visiting them and exploring their home with its treasure trove of miniatures, gadgets, and Clessie's doll collection, including her special Shirley Temple dolls. 

Clessie Sword was loved, admired, and appreciated for her sweet nature, generous heart, warm sense of humor, and welcoming spirit, and predeceased by her husband, Gordon, and her son, David, she leaves to cherish her memory her children, Larry Sword (Kelli), Ruth Alvarado (Joe), Karen Kiunke (Ken), and Pam LaCroix (Chuck); her grandchildren, Carrie Hartz (David), Sherry Shulze, Shannon Graves (Justin), Chris Lorensson (Ruth), Jason Simpson (Lauren), Jeff Alvarado (Heather), Amy Formentera (Andrew), John Kiunke, Justin Jones (Misty), Holly Doscher, and Krislyn LaCroix; her 17 great-grandchildren with another on the way; and many other extended family members and close friends. 

Kathy was born on July 14, 1958, in Santa Monica, California, to Joyce Eleis Kiunke and Kenneth Ernst Kiunke. She grew up in Fullerton with her brother, Kenneth Daniel "Danny" Kiunke. 

Kathy attended Acacia and Richmond elementary schools and graduated from Endeavor High School in 1979. She was a Brownie in her younger days, and participated in Fullerton’s Good Times Camp for six years, visiting Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Sea World and going camping, roller skating, and bowling, along with other activities. She worked at OCARC Sheltered Workshop from 1979 to 2008, when she retired at the age of 50. She and her mother moved to Folsom in 2010 to be near her brother and his family.

Kathy loved being with friends and family, playing her records, dancing, and watching her favorite movies and TV shows, such as The Wizard of Oz, Willie Wonka, The Sound of Music, The Birds, I Love Lucy, Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, and The Brady Bunch. She also loved animals, especially her childhood dog Kichi, and her brother’s family dog, Creampuff.

Predeceased by her father, Ken, Kathy left to cherish her memory her mother, Joyce; her brother, Ken; her sister-in-law, Karen; her nephew, John; her dear friends, Marie Van Ness, Cara Walburn, Luci Giddings, and Nancy Filipponi; her many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and numerous other dear friends and neighbors who knew her throughout her life.

To view a video tribute to Kathy's life, click here.