Celebration of Life Service
Commonwealth Senior Living on the Eastern Shore-
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Email Details
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23610 North Street
Onancock, VA 23417
1926
Susan
2019
Susan H. Emerson
June 25, 1926 — November 28, 2019
Susan H. Emerson, 93, of Jamesville, VA, passed away on Thursday, November 28, 2019 at Commonwealth Senior Living (formerly The Hermitage) in Onancock, VA. She shared 63 years of marriage with her dear husband, the late William G. Emerson. We think of them sailing together into the sunset.
The daughter of Dr. Edward B. and Mary A. Hunn, she grew up and raised her young family in her childhood home in Cranford, NJ. She graduated from Cranford High School and with honors from Douglass College for Women -- Class of '48.
In 1966, the family moved to Basking Ridge, NJ where they had purchased a country property so Bill could build his dream home. As the children went off to college, Susan started a career spanning almost 30 years with AT&T in New York City and New Jersey as a staff manager and later (called out of retirement) as a consultant and trainer. Sue and Bill retired from New Jersey to the Eastern Shore of Virginia just over 30 years ago where they both found the perfect setting for their talents and passions. After a fall in 2011 she spent five years in assisted living at The Terrace at Beth Sholom in Virginia Beach, VA but was able to return to her beloved home.
Always a "doer", Sue was never far from a gavel and the Robert's Rules of Order . Her interests were all-encompassing and she was a force to be reckoned with. If she saw a need she would address it.
She was a devoted Presbyterian and served in the Cranford Presbyterian Church; as a deacon, elder and moderator of the Session of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church; and was on the Session of the Belle Haven Presbyterian Church. She received a Woman of the Year Award from the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. She also served as moderator for the Presbyterian Women. As secretary of the Douglass Class of '48 she wrote the bi-annual column in the Douglass Alumnae News. For 68 years she kept in touch with all her classmates and recorded their joys and sorrows in a manner that made her column "a must read" for all alumnae. In Virginia she was also active with the DAR, Master Gardeners (500++ hours), Jamesville Homemakers, Literary Council, Hospice, Church Women United, TOPS, CBES and ESVA Recycling-Environmental Group. She served as a docent at Ker Place and volunteered for many other organizations. She was very involved in Girl Scouting throughout her life and and active in PTA's for twenty-four years of parenting school age children. While at The Terrace, she was instrumental in starting a book club for the residents and received a certificate in Hebrew studies. She was always curious and and a lifelong learner! All benefitted from her leadership, energy and creativity.
Sue was a teacher, avid reader, beautiful writer, calligrapher, lover of history and genealogy, quilter, and gardener. All who knew her learned good grammar -- "or else!" -- and proper manners and etiquette. We never needed a dictionary because she could spell anything! She was an avid speller and loved triva recognition up through her last months.
She is survived by her children: Marel Eager of Halifax, Nova Scotia; James Emerson and his wife Kathy McCormack of Montrose, CO; Sarah Emerson of Jamesville, VA; and Carrie Block and her husband Dr. Robert Block of Rochester, NY; a brother, Rev. John Hunn and his wife Margaret of Willsboro, NY; sister, Jean Holton of Little River, SC; and sister-in-law, Jane Emerson of Virginia Beach, VA. Susan greatly loved and enjoyed her 7 grandchildren: Christopher (Julia), Emily, Blue, John, Rachel, Katelyn (Nick), and Rebecca; godson Marco; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her beloved parents, Susan was predeceased by her sister, Mary Walker; brothers-in-law Kenneth Holton and Roger Emerson , niece Martha Hunn and son-in-law, James Eager.
A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Commonwealth Senior Living in Onancock with Rev. Keith Emerson, Pastor Robert Fletcher and Rev. William Moore officiating. Reception will follow. Interment will be in NJ at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden in the spring.
Thank you to all who helped with Susan's care and supported all of us during these difficult years.
Memorial gifts in Susan’s honor may be made to:
Douglass College Alumnae Association, New Brunswick, NJ; ESO Art Center, Bellehaven, VA; or Northampton Free Library, Nassawadox, VA.
Please visit www.doughtyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book and/or to send condolences to the family. Arrangements have been made by Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore, VA.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Susan H. Emerson, please visit our flower store.
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