Clara Horseman

On November 6, 2019, we said goodbye to our mother, Clara Celestino Horseman. We are having a short visitation to celebrate her life on November 23, 2019 from 1:00 to 3:00 at Shirley Brothers, 9606 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, Indiana. Born in Hillrose, Colorado in 1931, Clara was one of 13 children. The family began as migrant workers, travelling around the west and working farms. But once the children became old enough to attend school, my grandmother insisted that the family settle in one location. Her life was not easy as a child but this is when she learned that if you have family, you have everything. She was very proud to acknowledge that all 13 Celestino children graduated from high school. Clara graduated from college, the first Celestino to do so. She taught for a short time in migrant camps until she married our father, Edgar Horseman, who predeceased Clara in 2009. Ultimately settling in Indiana, there were not many Mexicans living in Indiana at the time. But we can remember mother bringing home or helping the Latinos she encountered in adjusting to life in the United States. But she did not just help Latinos. Clara would “adopt” all kinds of people in need – whether it be the elderly lady who had no family to a high schooler who needed a place to live so she could finish her last year of high school. It was our mother who taught us that being kind cost us nothing but being cruel can cost everything. She also taught us that we should not remain silent when we witness mistreatment of others. Clara worked a number of years at Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance and ultimately retired from there. In 2009, mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. At the time, we were not sure where this journey would lead us but we should have trusted that no matter what, our mother would make it fun and she certainly did. She never lost her sense of humor and I am sure people wondered why there were gales of laughter coming out of her room. Even at the end, she had us laughing. Only two days before her death, we had moved her in her bed and she cried out, "Stop, you are killing me." She then fell back on her bed as if she were dead. We looked at each other in horror and then my mother opened her eyes and started laughing as did we. She loved her daughters, Karen Celestino Horseman and Sharon Grubbs and her son-in-law Paul Grubbs who was called home far too early. She loved and adored her grandchildren Cameron Grubbs, Austin Grubbs and his wife Chrissy Grubbs and Kyle Grubbs. She loved her great-grandchildren and her brothers and sisters Linda Celestino, Bea Montoya, Terry Guzman, Dominga Celestino, Trinidad Celestino, Gilbert Celestino, Henrietta Miranda and Barbara Bueno and all her nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. Our mother told us that the only regret she had in life was that our father predeceased her. We find comfort in knowing that our mother is now able to be with our father. Our mother taught us that life is about loving, laughing, family and the occasional glass of wine. Gracias por los años de amor y cuidado que nos diste. Te echaremos de menos, pero nos reconforta saber que volveremos a estar contigo. Te amamos, mama. Thank you for the years of love and care you gave us. We will miss you, but we take comfort in knowing we will be with you again. We love you, Mom. Our family would like to thank all the staff at Brownsburg Meadows, from the assisted living, kitchen staff and the memory care unit. We saw how much our mom was loved during the last days of her life. We knew she was special, but they confirmed what we knew. We will remember what you taught us, but most of all, we will remember how much you loved us. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Indianapolis and/or the Alzheimer's Association.

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Clara Horseman

May 2, 1931 - November 6, 2019