Clarene “Clara” Elizabeth Filippelli

Clarene “Clara” Elizabeth Filippelli, age 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Calvin Community in Des Moines, Iowa.

Clarene was born the daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Pinnick) Caligiuri on July 19, 1935, in Des Moines, Iowa. She grew up in Des Moines and spent a few formative years in Clinton, Iowa, before returning to Des Moines and graduating from Saint Joseph Academy in 1953. She attended Drake University as one of only four women pharmacy majors before marrying Dominic Filippelli on February 2, 1957. Clarene and Dominic were proud, lifelong southsiders who raised their family of seven children as Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church parishioners. She was a warm and loving stay-at-home mom until her children were fully grown, and later worked for the Iowa Dental Association as an Administrative Assistant for many years before retiring. She was a member of St. Anthony’s Altar and Rosary Society, the Society of Italian Americans, and the Italian American Women of Iowa club.

She loved puzzles and games, especially playing cards with family and friends–often at the West Des Moines Senior Center and the Southside Senior Center. She also enjoyed reading the New York Times voraciously and discussing politics with anyone. In her younger days, she enjoyed traveling and even traveled with the Friendship Force of Greater Des Moines to sister cities in Italy. She was the most generous person, with a kind heart, and she loved unconditionally.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Frank (Brett and Michael) and Dominic, Jr. (Darla) of West Des Moines, IA; Joseph of Safety Harbor, FL; Mario (Anna) of Norwalk, IA; and Paul (Mahria) of Des Moines, IA; her daughter, Anna (James) Purdum of Manhattan Beach, CA; 17 grandchildren, Diana (Aaron) Fleischer, Katherine (Scott) Pender, Sofia Meredith, Annamarie, Starla (Cole) Hannafious, Stephanie (Spencer) Burgduff, Nicole, Dominic, Noelle, Nikki (Casey) Smith, Crystal (Ryan) Ogren, Henry Purdum, Chelsea Purdum, Paul Jr. (Gretchen), Vincent (Arryn), Nicolas (Jasmine), and Samuel (Zoey) Filippelli; 18 great-grandchildren, Elara Fleischer, Aidan Fleischer, Charlotte Pender, Riley Pender, Amber Murphy, Devin Murphy, Theresa Murphy, Samantha Burgduff, Stefan Burgduff, Savannah Burgduff, Skye Hannafious, Mila Smith, Tessa Smith, Leo, Lilly, Luca, Sofia, and Grayson Filippelli; 1 great-great grandchild, Jaymes Garrick; and many nieces and nephews as the sole remaining family matriarch of her generation.

Clarene was preceded in death by her husband, Dominic; parents, Agnes and Joseph Caligiuri; sister, Mary Jo Killin; sisters-in-law, Rose Comito and Amelia Giudicessi; brothers-in-law, Paul Comito, John Giudicessi, and Edward Killin; daughter, Theresa Filippelli; grandson Dominic Filippelli III, great-grandson Vincent (Vinny) Filippelli; and her lifelong friends, Clara Barbati and Victoria Ciancianruso.

Visitation will be held Sunday, June 7, from 5 - 7 pm at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th in Des Moines, and a mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 15 Indianola Road in Des Moines, will follow on Monday, June 8, at 10:30 am with a luncheon afterwards. Interment will take place at a later date at Glendale Cemetery next to her husband, Dominic.

Condolences may be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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