Clarence Schiller

Clarence Peter Schiller, 99, died on July 11, 2018, in Redondo Beach, Calif.  Born on March 28, 1919, in St. Anthony, Albany township, Minn., he was one of eleven children born to parents William Sr. “Bill” and Rose (nee Cherne) Schiller. Clarence decided to leave Minnesota at age 21, coming to Los Angeles in search of opportunity in the Golden State.  It was in Los Angeles that he met his beloved “Darling” wife Celina “Marie” Anaya.  Following a brief engagement, the two married on July 5, 1943.  Shortly thereafter, Clarence was selected to serve the United States during WWII   Following his military service in the United States Army, Clarence made a home with  Marie in Los Angeles, where they raised their six children.  Clarence made his career at Standard Oil Refinery (now Chevron), in El Segundo, California.  In his spare time, he worked to establish St. Gerard Majella Parish Church in Los Angeles, California with his neighbors and friends in the Mar Vista neighborhood. Upon retirement, he and his wife Marie became residents of Palmdale, Calif. where he was a tireless volunteer in the Antelope Valley community. Clarence dedicated his days to the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s food program, obtaining and delivering food from local grocers to food banks and individual families on a daily basis.  He gathered produce from ranchers throughout the area to share with the needy, and would collect donations for charity sales or distribution to the poor. He also became an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, serving as a Eucharistic Minister not only at Sunday mass, but also ministering to the infirm and homebound. His deep love for his “Darling” Marie was unwavering, and he cared for her until her passing. Clarence is survived by his six children Michael (Colleen), Peter, Stephen (Judy), Elaine, Karl (Susi), and David (Tracy), his 6 grandchildren Randy (Olga), Johnathan (Maria), Amy, Erik, Stephen Patrick, and Alison, and his two great-grandchildren Sydney and Natalie, his siblings Dorothy, Dolores, Eleanor, and Jerry, and countless loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  He is preceded in death by his darling wife, Celina “Marie” (nee Anaya), his siblings William II “Billy”, Rosemary, Bernice, Alvin, LeRoy, and Audrey, and his parents, Bill and Rose. Visitation and prayer of the rosary will be held at St. Gerard Majella Church in Los Angeles on Friday, July 20, at 5pm.  A mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Gerard MajellaSaturday, July 21, at 10am, followed by a gathering of family and friends. Graveside services at Good Shepherd Cemetery in Lancaster, Calif. will follow on a future date.  In lieu of flowers, and in celebration and recognition of his commitment to service of the needy, Clarence’s family requests memorial donations be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Los Angeles Countyat https://svdpla.org/donate/