Clara Isabel McDermott

Clara Isabel McDermott of Montgomery, NY, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Montgomery. She was 60.

The daughter of Juan Manuel Montenegro and Sophia Atehortua, she was born June 7, 1965, in Manizales, Colombia.  Clara’s family moved around Colombia due to her father’s job in the government, eventually settling in Bogota.  In 2000, Clara emigrated to the United States with her one-time husband, and still friend, Alveiro Rendon and their daughter Katherine Andrea Rendon.  Soon after arriving in the United States, Clara began work at IBM, where she worked until 2007.  After leaving IBM, Clara owned and operated CIMA Cleaning Service which she created and ran for the next 19 years.  In 2015, Clara took on additional work when she was hired by Walden Savings Bank.  Initially hired as a teller, Clara eventually rose to the management ranks as a Relationship Banker and continued there until 2024.  Clara loved her work at Walden Savings Bank and cherished the friendships that she made there.  

In 2010, Clara met her husband, Curt McDermott.  For the next 16 years, the couple shared a wonderful romance and a love of the outdoors.  Clara, who was once considered herself a city girl, came to enjoy and appreciate all things in the natural world.  Clara could often be found Hiking, biking, kayaking, snowshoeing or just walking in nature with Curt.  Clara had a special interest in trees and often read to learn more about them.  She loved the night sky and enjoyed the many special events that it provides.  She would often lay out on a blanket on a clear night, to watch a meteor shower or see a comet or the moon or just enjoy the vastness of it all as the satellites drifted by.

Clara found great joy in being with family and friends.  Always the first to start dancing when the music began to play, Clara brought a spark and life to every occasion.  When given the choice to do anything that she wanted for her 60th Birthday, Clara simply chose to spend the day with family and friends.  She could think of no greater joy.  The greatest of those joys was her daughter Katherine, of whom she was always so proud.  The peak of that pride was seeing Katherine receive her bachelor’s degree in 2025.  Clara found great value in education and always wanted to learn something new.  If she wasn’t reading to learn something new, should would watch shows to learn how something was made or learn about history.  The learning process had no end for her.

Clara was an amazing grandmother (Abuelita). She would always ask for the kids to come to the house.  Upon their arrival, she would immediately hide and the games would begin.  They gave her energy to play for hours, whether it be basketball, soccer, hide and seek or a board game, she was always ready to play.

Clara was cherished by so many.  She was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a cousin, a daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, a stepmother, an aunt, a niece and a friend to all who came to know her.  Clara enriched the lives of all of those she touched, and she will forever live in our hearts.

She is survived by her loving Husband Curtis McDermott of Montgomery, NY, daughter Katherine Rendon of Hopewell Junction, NY, parents Juan Manuel Montenegro and Mother Sophia Atehortua of Colombia, brother Juan Carlos Montenegro and wife Yomaira Calderon of Colombia, sister Angela Patricia Montenegro and husband Fernando Leiva of Colombia, aunt Nubia Pulido, grandchildren Damien, Amara, Maddox, Sage, Hazel and Forrest, father-in-law Kenneth McDermott of Newburgh, NY, ex-husband Alveiro Rendon of Fishkill, NY, stepdaughter Lacey McDermott of Arizona, stepdaughter Breanna McDermott of Gardiner, NY, and many cousins, nieces and nephews are all special to her but too many to name.

Visitation will take place Thursday, April 30, 2026, 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Millspaugh Funeral Home, 22 Bank St., Walden, NY 12586.

A service will be held Friday, May 1, 2026, at 11am at Goodwill Church, 2135 Route 208, Montgomery NY.

Cremation will take place privately.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Orange County Arboretum  or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital.

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