Clara Rogers, who began playing piano in her church in the late 1940s and gave lessons on the instrument to generations of students, passed away from complications of pneumonia Dec. 10. She was 86. Until only months ago, she played every Sunday for chapel services at her residence, the Allegria Village senior living community, in Dearborn. Many of her former students are now successful professional musicians with advanced performance and pedagogy degrees, She is survived by Brian, her husband of 64 years; daughter Karen (Gregory) Lang of Ann Arbor; son David (Nancy) Rogers of Eugene, OR; and three grandchildren, Dr. Allison (Christopher) Wilson and Connor Lang of Texas and Sophie Rogers of Oregon. She will be remembered by all who knew her as a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Born in Berea, OH, she moved to Ypsilanti, MI, at the age of six weeks, when her father took a job with the Michigan Central Railroad. After high school she entered Michigan State Normal College—now Eastern Michigan University—to become a music teacher. It was there she met her husband. A stay-at-home-mom, she began giving piano lessons in her living room when her children required less attention. At one time—in-the 1980s —more than 80 students sat weekly at her Steinway grand. The piano has been donated to her alma mater, the School of Music at Eastern Michigan University. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, January 26, 2024, in the Chapel at Allegria Village. Officiating will be Rev. Rosanne Anderson, formerly pastor of Transfiguration Lutheran Church in Taylor, where Clara was music director for many years. Memorial contributions may be made to Leuk's Landing, an Ann Arbor sanctuary for cats and kittens stricken with feline leukemia. Checks may be mailed to Leuks Landing, Inc. 5508 Tanglewood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, or through the organization's website, www.leukslanding.org.