Clara (Mazzaferro) Cox, 103, was born in Calabria, Italy, on June 10, 1920, and died October 6, 2023, in Valley Village, CA. She was the daughter of Pietro and Maria Giuseppina (Cufari) Mazzaferro and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1928.
Clara was raised in Springfield, MA, and enlisted in the Women’sArmy Auxiliary Corps in 1943 serving during WWII. After the war, she worked for the Department of the Navy, and then re-enlisted in the Air Force in late 1945. She worked in the offices on the flightlines of several bases, including Hammer Field, March AFB, and Langley AFB where she met and married TSgt Lemuel G. Cox in June 1947.
A very independent and brave woman, Clara and her two young daughters moved from East Longmeadow, MA, where she worked at Westover AFB, to San Bernardino, CA, in 1962 where she worked at Norton AFB until her retirement from civil service in 1983. She moved to Los Angeles in 1984 to become a doting grandmother to her grandson, Jonathan.
She then worked at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles for 7 years.
Her many travels took her to the Panama Canal, Aruba, Greece, Italy, Monaco, and throughout France.
A very sweet and supportive woman, Clara is deeply missed by her family; daughters, Rosetta Gitlin and Judith Frazier, grandson,Jonathan Gitlin (Ashley), and two great-grandchildren, Jacob and Alexandra.
Clara was the last of her generation, predeceased by her parents, brothers, Carmelo, Dominic and Paul, and sisters, Nancy and Rose. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Family and friends are invited to visit at Tazzini Funeral Home, 22 Locust Street in Springfield on Tuesday, October 24th from 1 p.m to 3 p.m.
On Wednesday, October 25th, all are welcome once again to Tazzini Funeral Home at 9 a.m. proceeding to Clara’s 10 a.m. Liturgy of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, burial, with full military honors, to follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery.
Please visit www.TazziniFuneralHome.com for condolences.
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