Harper Elizabeth Clem
March 26, 1996 ~ April 28, 2018
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Harper Elizabeth Clem, 22, of Asheville, passed away unexpectedly in her residence.
Born in Peekskill, NY, she was the daughter of Stephen Clem and Mindy Farbrother . She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Clarence Clem, and her maternal grandfather, Richard Farbrother.
She was a 2014 graduate of Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ.
Harper was a junior at Appalachian State, majoring in Supply Chain Management. She was a beautiful, compassionate spirit with a great sense of adventure and a wicked sense of humor who loved to travel. Harper spent a summer in Fiji, where she helped to build a school, and a year in Paris, where she worked as an Au Pair, and became fluent in French. She had dreamed of living there in the future. She will be missed by those whose lives she touched.
In addition to her mother and father, she is survived by her stepmothers, Lois Griffing and Robin Clem; a sister, Devon Clem; maternal grandmother Karen Fraser (John); paternal grandmother, Margaret Clem; aunts Kathie Norrow and Kristin Farley; uncles Michael (Karen) and Joseph (Mimi) Clem, and John, Rick (Carmen), Fred, and Bernie Farbrother; stepbrothers Joseph and David Pianese; stepsisters Rebecca and Sarah Pianese; and cousins Megan, Chelsei, and Angela Clem, Justin and Trevor Norrow; and Claire Farley.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 4, 2018 at The West Asheville Garden Retreat and Sanctuary, 18 Beverly Road West, Asheville, with Rev. Carol Asiaghi officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Harper’s memory may be made to Treatment Advocacy Center online at www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org. This organization specializes in the treatment of mental illness and bipolar disorders.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Dear Mindy, Steve, Devon, Lois, and Robin (and all Harper’s loving relatives and friends), I hold you all tightly in my heart and am sending you as much white light and healing energy that I can muster. Harper touched my heart as a little girl when she would visit us at Chicago. I will always remember her fondly. So much love.
Dear Harper,
I dreamt last night that I was telling you the meaning of your name because you said it didn’t have one. Harper, a harp player. From the first time I met you I knew you were something special. It felt as if you’d been here before because behind those beautiful eyes, you had stories to tell. Well, sweet harp player, you have your wings now and another story to tell. I’m honored our paths crossed in this life. Rest In Peace, Angel.
Dear Mindy, Devon and Steve, we are sorry for your loss. I remember Harper having a beautiful singing voice; we watched Across the Universe endlessly at Rick and Carmen’s house the last time we saw her and Devon. You are in our thoughts, hearts and prayers. Charlee, Nick, Jillian and Hayley Serpa
Dear Mindy, Devon, Lois, Steve and Robin, We are so incredibly sorry, and are sending you so much love and prayers. I will always remember my talks with Harper when she would come to the theatre. She was a gentle soul, but also had this sense of adventure. Rest in Peace, Harper.
Thinking of you all and wishing you peace and comfort as you remember Harper
Dear Mindy, Steve, Devon, Lois, and Robin,
Our heartfelt condolences to you and our prayers and love to sweet, gentle Harper. Flights of Angels, dear Harper.
Much love,
David & Laurie Hyslop
Be at peace beautiful girl. May you be wrapped in wings of love and may your free spirit soar above us.
To all of Harper’s loved ones- I will keep her in my heart and will pray you may eventually have some peace. She was a beautiful soul as those that are troubled usually are. You could see in her eyes she was an old soul,I will never forget her smiling face. My prayers are with you,I’m so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Harper.
Many blessings for your family and hopes of peace in time to come. I am so very sorry for your great loss.
RIP Harper.
Emily: Good-bye to clocks ticking and Mama’s sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? – every, every minute?
Stage Manager: No. Saints and poets maybe. They do some.
Oh Mindy, Lois, Devon, Steve, Robin our hearts are bleeding just thinking what you and family are going through. We are so, so sorry. We love your girls especially after spending so much time with them, watching them grow up and experiencing many funny moments with them. We are here for you. Love you all.
Dear, Sweet Harper, We will miss you, your smile and your laughter. We loved the joy you brought with you and shared with our family, most especially Kate. You two were like sisters. We will carry you in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
To Mindy, Steve, Devon, Lois and Robin:
My heart breaks a little more every day. I long to see you soon.
To Devon and Harper: I treasure every moment we spent when you
were growing up- you taught me so much.
To dear Harper: your wit, intellect, restlessness and profound compassion
will inspire me always to live a better life. I love you.
Love, strength and hope to all in the many families and in attendance today.
Rich
Elsa was in my class at Appstate this semester. We spoke several times in my office, and I able to see her intelligent, beautiful and brave spirit. She died too young, and the world has been robbed of someone who could have made a good difference. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Mindy, Steve, Devon, Lois and Robin-
We are so sorry. Harper was a bright light in the world and we will carry the memory of how brilliantly she shined with us forever.
We are sending you lots of love and our deepest condolences.
Dear Harper. We never met, which is our loss, but we felt we knew you from hearing your mom and Lois talking about you and seeing your pictures on Facebook. You touched many people’s lives, including these two strangers to you far away across the ocean. You and your family have been in our thoughts. We are sure that the world was a better place for having you in it.
Please accept our condolences. Peace and light to your family and loved ones.
Harper was an amazing, beautiful, talented young women. I thank God for the opportunity to get to know her while she was at Arizona State University. We will never forget the wonderful weekends we shared with Harper. My love goes out to everyone in the family, we are so sadness by the loss of Harper; but know that she is angel looking over us.
Mindy and Lois,
I am so sorry. You all have been in my thoughts and prayers. I have a lot of fond memories of Harper coming to the theater to get her hair done or stretch with me on stage. Much love, Michelle Potterf
Harper, I saw you in so many places at CHS, but I never had the courage to ask you out or even say hi. How I wish I had known you better.
Love, and Solidarity