Clarice Grace (Hill) Horvath

Born February 24,1939 in Freemont Nebraska to George and Clara (Strand) Hill, weighing in at a whopping 3 ½ pounds.  She was so small she could fit into a shoe box and her birth was written up in the American Medical Association and cost her parents $1,500 in 1939, which was a LOT of money.

Clarice passed away on May 5, 2023 with her son, John, and daughter-in-law, Joyce, holding her hand as she ended her struggle with bladder cancer.  John and Joyce spent the last two months of her life caring for her in her home, which is where she wanted to be.  Her loving grandchildren, Justin (Val) and Amanda (Andrew) visited frequently, showering her with love.  However, her biggest smiles came when her 3 great-grandchildren, Ayla (3), Miles (22 months) and Nora (6 months) came along.  She cherished all the time she got to spend with them throughout the COVID pandemic.  Along with her immediate family, cherished other family and friends were able to have short visits when she was up to it.  We all will cherish our final visits with her, remembering her sweet and gentle demeanor.

Clarice and her parents moved to the Pacific Northwest shortly after WWII, when her dad took a job at the Bremerton Naval Yards.  They moved in with her mother’s sister, Delia, and her family until they could find a place of their own.  Clarice lived in the White Center / Southwest Seattle area since about 1949.  She attended Holy Family School and then went to Holy Names Academy for High School, graduating in 1957.  After graduating from high school, Clarice Hill went on to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini School of Nursing, graduating in 1960.

Clarice married her husband, Tibor (Ted) Horvath in October 1961.  They welcomed their only son, John, the following year.  They bought their house in West Seattle in 1962, where she lived until her passing.  Ted preceded her in death in November 2014.

After graduating from nursing school, Clarice went on to work as a nurse at Cabrini Hospital, where she worked for a number of years before a car accident forced her to give up her nursing career.  Her many colleagues, doctors and patients remembered her fondly throughout her life.  Caregiving was in her nature, so she ultimately went on to her most rewarding career (besides being a mother and grandmother) to being a nanny.  She nannied for two families that were very special to her.  Her first stint was with Gail and Jed Smith and their two daughters, Hannah and Bridget.  After that, she went on to nanny for John McConnell and Julie Pollack and their two children, Hannah and Ian.

Throughout her life, Clarice was known as a loving and caring person, who cherished kindness, which showed in how she lived her life and welcomed and loved everyone around her.  She was gentle and her beautiful hands comforted many.  She was known lovingly my many names, mom, gramma, Naddy, Aunt Clarice, Klari, cousin, friend and I’m sure there are many more.

Clarice was well known for her love of crocheting blankets and embroidery.  She spent countless hours crocheting blankets and embroidering pillowcases and tea towels.  She especially enjoyed crocheting baby blankets for all the new additions to her growing family.  Each one was crafted lovingly with her beautiful hands.  If she wasn’t busy with her hands, you’d find her shopping for “bargains”, cruising the local Goodwill, reading a good book or busy telling family stories!

Clarice is survived by her son, John (Joyce), grandson, Justin (Val) and granddaughter, Amanda (Andrew), along with great-grandchildren Ayla, Miles and Nora as well as countless other “grandchildren and great-grandchildren” who affectionately called her “gramma or Naddy”.  She is also survived by many cousins, as her mother was from a family of 22 children and her father from a family of 8 children.

Please share a memory of Clarice or a word or two that you would use to describe her.  You can send any memories to John at jthorvath@comcast.net.

We would like to thank Providence Hospice for caring for her during the last several weeks, along with Dr. Katherine Hoang, who was her primary physician for many years.  Also, all the family and friends that continued to support us through her final journey.  We send you all a huge heartfelt “Thanks”!

A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, June 25th from 1-4 PM at “Beach Park Dining Hall”, located at 22030 Cliff Ave S, Des Moines WA 98198.  Clarice loved a good party, so we hope you can attend and enjoy sharing memories and connecting with friends and family.  Food and drinks will be provided.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Providence Hospice ( Providence.org ), Mary’s Place ( marysplaceseattle.org ) or a children’s charity of your choice.

Also, Clarice loved to send cards to family and friends.  Reach out and send a card to someone you care about.  She would love this as she cherished sending and receiving a card with a handwritten note in it.

- Care Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle -