Clarisse Chism

Clarisse L. Chism, 87, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008, at Arbors at Auburn Creek.

She was born Nov. 28, 1920, at Edina, Mo., daughter of Herbert and Adelaide Lueders. She and Dr. Harold E. Chism were married March 7, 1942, a union that lasted more than 50 years.

Clarisse was well-known to many families in Southeast Missouri as she worked alongside her husband in his dental practice at 1856 Broadway. For 35 years she filled a variety of roles from receptionist to office manager, dental assistant and lab technician.

She was also affiliated with Lueders Photographic Studio, established by her father, Herbert Lueders, and carried on by her brothers, Paul and John Lueders, until recent years.

In the early days before the introduction of Kodachrome color film, Clarisse used oil paints to hand color black and white photographs for the studio. Many of the studio's wedding photographs from the 1950 and early 1960s, as well as portraits of babies, children and adults were hand-colored by Clarisse and cherished by families in Southeast Missouri to this day.

Following the close of Lueders Studio in 1995, a vast collection of local photographs was donated to the archives at Southeast Missouri State University's Kent Library and made available for historic research.

Clarisse was a former member of Saint Francis Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered as a Girl Scout leader eight years. Clarisse and Harold enjoyed traveling in the western United States in their motor home, as well as fishing and boating at Kentucky Lake.

Following her husband's death, Clarisse and her brothers, John and Julius Lueders, rekindled their close family ties by tending to each other's needs, attending Mass on Sundays at St. Vincent's Church and enjoying lunch together on a daily basis. Clarisse's son-in-law, Donald L. Palmer, often referred to them as the "Three Musketeers."

Clarisse is survived by a daughter, Melissa A. Palmer (Donald) of Naperville, Ill.; four brothers, Herbert Lueders (Betty) of Lexington, Mich., John and Julius Lueders of Cape Girardeau, and Maurice Lueders (Dottie) of Hoffman Estates, Ill.

In addition to her parents, Clarisse was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, Paul Lueders (Genevieve) of Cape Girardeau and Ralph Lueders (Mercedes) of Hinsdale, Ill.

The family will receive friends at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday. Parish prayers will be at 5:30. Sharing of memories will be most welcome at this time.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Old St. Vincent's Chapel of Ease at Main and William Streets. Entombment will be in Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Crown Hospice, 1353 N. Mount Auburn Road, Suite C, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701; or the Alzheimer's Association; or a charity of your choice.