Amelia Diaz Clark Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Amelia Diaz Clark, age 80, passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 surrounded by family. She was born in Ilioilo City, the Philippines on June 12, 1940 to Mauricio Diaz and Rosario Gonzales, raised in the shadow of the Japanese occupation. She attended the University of the East and worked at the U.S. Naval Station at Sangley Point in Cavite City, Philippines. She married Felix Valdivia of Alaminos, and had two sons, Virgilio and Joseph Valdivia and was widowed in 1968. She came to the U.S. after marrying James Clark (Gemma) who was stationed at Sangley Point. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital and was an active parent at her son’s schools, Resurrection and St. James High. She moved to Wilmington, Delaware and worked at DuPont for 26 years and was given numerous awards for company-wide safety campaigns. Shortly after she transferred to the Computer Sciences Corporation from where she retired. Amelia also served in the Army Reserves in the seventies through the eighties, achieving Sergeant First Class at a time when women were not highly regarded in the military. Amelia was an altruist, had a strong faith and work ethic. She was an amazing cook and baker and enjoyed gardening, travel, Jeopardy, M*A*S*H, and cooking shows. She was an animal lover and rescued many cats over the years as well as our dogs Mugsy and Sadie, a Great Dane. She had a strong personality and will; she never did anything half-way. She always told you the truth whether or not you wanted to hear it. This brazen spirit lives within all of us. She taught us to be loyal to family, friends, and to love yourself. We will miss her stories about her life in the Philippines, the Army, her travels, and her brutal honesty. Amelia is predeceased by her daughter, Maria Suzanne “Sue” Hemphill and her brother, Eduardo Diaz (Corazon “Cora”). She is survived by her siblings, Benjamin Diaz of Los Angeles, CA, Theresita Cornilla (Johnny-D) of Manila, Philippines, Hector Diaz (Aquilina “Lina”) of Queens, NY, and her children: sons, Virgilio “Val” (Natalie) of Middleburg, FL, Joseph of Wilmington, DE, and Maria (Ken) of Wilmington, DE with whom she lived; and her 7 grandchildren: Shaun (Lindsey), Monica, Hunter, Nina, Andrew, Austin, Alex, her great granddaughter, Laney, and numerous nieces and nephews throughout the U.S., the Philippines, and Australia. May she be in peace now that she has been reunited with Sue, Marc, Felix and her mother & father in Heaven. We wish to remember our mother in a way that honors her altruism. In lieu of flowers please donate in her name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at https://alzfdn.org/support-us/ or the Delaware Humane Society at https://delawarehumane.org/donate/gift/. Funeral services will be private. In 2021, Amelia will be laid to rest in the Philippines. To send an online condolence please visit www.stranofeeley.com Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home 302-731-5459

Amelia Diaz Clark

June 12, 1940 - December 1, 2020