CLARISE JUNE KRAMER CADARETTE GRZENKOWICZ

Clarise June Kramer was born on June 2, 1919, to the late Leonard and Mary Kramer. She married Henry V. Cadarette in 1940, he passed away in 1964. She later married Julian Grzenkowicz in 1971, he passed away in 2004. Her history is long and well documented. Her work life started at age 16 at the Alpena Garment Factory. In her own voice, she tells her story as it is recorded and posted at the Alpena County Library. When she married Henry V., she moved to Maplewood Tavern and she became a wife, mother, and started her career in the bar business. Clarise is in the Guinness World Record Books for being the “Longest Career as a Bartender in the World,” named in 2011. She has received honors from state and local authorities and been interviewed about her career and life at Maplewood via newspapers and television.

Clarise is a member of the Alpena Ladies Aux. VFW 2496. She is a longtime member of the Alpena Eagles Aux. 1241 and a member of the Alpena Rebekahs. She held several offices in the Eagles Aux. and the Rebekahs. Clarise is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, the church where she was baptized, confirmed, and married. She had a passion for following music and had a long list of musicians that called her “Mom”. In 2015, she recorded some of her favorite songs with her family. Her embroidery handy work is in the homes of many of her friends and family. She will be missed by so many people that her life touched.

The world at her beloved Maplewood Tavern will never be the same. In her own words, she promised her mother-in-law, Orpha, that she would keep the family business going as long as she was able. She was able to do that until she just couldn’t anymore. Clarise has lived her life as a friend to many and a dutiful person to promises made and promises kept. She was one of a kind.

Surviving are her two children, Henry L. (Penny McGirr), Carole J. Cadarette, stepchildren, Donald (Sophia), Gary (Delynn), Judy Kabacinski, Linda Lyons, 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and special friends, Carol Welker, and Nancy St. Onge. She is preceded in death by stepdaughter, Shirley, sisters, Eloise Cash, Beryl Edgley, Marion Chapman, brothers, Lowell, and Claude.

Visitation will take place Friday at Bannan Funeral Home from 2-8 p.m. A private funeral service will be Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. with the Very Rev. William J. McClure, Jr. officiating. (Masks required for all those in attendance) The service will be live streamed at bannanfuneralhome.com. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, as per her wishes, donations can be made to Sunday Supper at Trinity Episcopal Church or Hospice Compassus.

Interment: Evergreen Cemetery