Clara A. Van Der Hoef passed away peacefully in Sunrise, Florida on January 15, 2023, at the age of 91.

Born in Stockertown , Pennsylvania on April 6, 1931, she was the eldest daughter of the late Paul & Mary Egresi .  Clara was preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and beloved husband, Robert Bruce in 1993, after over 40 years of marriage.

Clara graduated from New Brunswick High School, NJ; Jersey City State Teachers College and the Medical Center Jersey City Hospital School of Nursing.  She was an Instructor and Obstetrical Supervisor at Middlesex General Hospital – New Brunswick, NJ.  After leaving Middlesex General Hospital, Clara was the registered nurse and office manager for Donald R. Reisfield , M.D. for 33 years before retiring in 1994.

Clara was an avid bowler and competed in numerous tournaments throughout the United States.  She was one of the first bowlers inducted into the Somerset-Hunterdon County Bowling Hall of Fame for bowling achievement in 1979.

Clara is survived by her two sisters, Eleanor (Edward) Newman; Elvira (Paul) Kostick; niece, Danielle (David) Hugus ; nephew, Paul (Lisa) Kostick; and nephews, Michael (Kathy) Newman and Marc Newman; her grandnephews, Robert and Nicholas Hugus ; and grandnieces, Faith Hugus , Giuliana and Gabriella Kostick.

She was preceded in death by her niece, Debra Newman, and nephew, David Newman.

Visitation will be held at Gowen- Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Home, 239 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on Thursday, January 26, 2023.

Interment will follow immediately after at St. Peter's Cemetery, Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ.

I n lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Our Lady of Peace Church , North Brunswick, NJ or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital .

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