Carmen Mae Klock March 22, 1936 — April 27, 2026

Carmen Mae Klock, aged 90, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2026. Born in York, Pennsylvania, on March 22, 1936, Carmen was the cherished daughter of Hiram and Cornella Maile Groff. The family soon moved to Hershey, PA, where Carmen would grow up surrounded by the sweet allure of her hometown.

Carmen's early education in Hershey's superior schools laid a strong foundation for her lifelong love of learning. She graduated from Hershey Junior College in 1956 and later pursued a Bachelor of Science at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, all while raising a loving family.

Her career began in high school with roles at the Hershey department store, Hershey Entertainment Park, and Hershey Corporation. She briefly worked as a secretary at Schenley Industries in New York City before embracing her true calling as a homemaker.

In 1956, Carmen married James Klock, marking the beginning of a 69 year journey filled with love, laughter, and the joy of raising three daughters: Karen (Jim), Lauri (Frank), and Valerie. Each daughter inherited Carmen’s passion for education, with Karen & Lauri achieving advanced degrees in Nursing, and Valerie in Law Enforcement.

Carmen reveled in the rich cultural tapestry of her youth, from dancing to Glenn Miller's Band at the Hershey Ballroom to ice skating in the Arena, home of the Hershey Bears. A memorable highlight was her role as an usher for Oscar Hammerstein's visit to the Hershey Theatre for the pre-Broadway performance of "South Pacific."

Jim's career with Ford's International Operations, took the family to Peru and Singapore (3 years each), enriching their lives with new cultures and languages. These travels also allowed them to explore many countries across South and Central America and Southeast Asia.

Above all, Carmen's greatest joy was her role as a homemaker and entertaining guests. She was the heart of the household, sending her daughters off to school and eagerly awaiting their return. Holidays were a special time for Carmen, who delighted in hosting family dinners and meticulously selecting and wrapping gifts for the family.

Carmen Mae Klock's legacy is one of unwavering love, dedication to family, and the simple pleasures of life. She was so very proud of all of her grandchildren: Sean (Rachel) Click, Daniel Oakes, Jennifer (Ankur) Amlani, Nicholas Click, and her great granddaughter Arya Amlani. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 27 at Kirk in the Hills Church, 1340 West Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302. The memorial service will be streamed live at: https://kirkinthehills.org .Click the "Worship From Home" button then press the "Past Messages" button. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: 
Kirk In the Hills Church 
Attn: Stacey Rols 
In memory of: Carmen Klock 
1340 W. Long Lake Rd. Bloomfield, Hills, MI 48302 

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Angela Hospice
In memory of Carmen Klock
14100 Newburgh Rd. 
Livonia, MI 48154

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Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.