Mary Clarke, 70, of St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly of Chicago, died Friday in Florida. Mrs. Clarke was the wife of a Chicago Police lieutenant, the late Robert Clarke, and the mother of two sons, Robert and Martin, both deceased, and a daughter, Patricia. Patricia and Martin followed in their father’s footsteps by joining the Chicago Police Department. After Martin, her younger son, died in 1984, Mrs. Clarke decided to help the families of other deceased police officers by volunteering with the Chicago Police Department’s Gold Star Families program. She was particularly interested in helping the surviving parents of the officers, having experienced the same type of loss, said her daughter, a patrol officer with the 22nd District. “My mom would always let them know she was there” to talk with, Patricia Clarke said. ” . . . She was a really outgoing person, she just loved to be around people.” Other survivors include two sisters and a brother. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday in Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn. Mass will be said at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday in St. Bede the Venerable Church, 8200 S.Kostner Ave., Chicago.
