PATRICIA LOUISA EMERY

FALMOUTH – Patricia Louisa Emery, 85, formerly of East Holden, passed away Thursday, July 24, 2008. She was born July 20, 1923, in Long Cross, England, daughter of Ernest and Edith Horrell. She was educated in Plymouth, England, schools. Mrs. Emery met her husband, Raymond, when he was serving in the U.S. Army during World War II in Great Britain. It was from his and other bases in the U.K. that the invasion of Normandy’s Omaha and Utah beaches was launched. Due to Plymouth’s (England) close proximity to France, the city’s dockyards were heavily bombed during what was known as the Plymouth Blitz and 3700 homes, along with more than 1000 civilians, were lost. During their courtship, they often had picnics on the moors overlooking the city of Plymouth, England. There were times when they would watch the firefights over the Cornish coast between the Allied Forces and the German Luftwaffe during the bombing of Plymouth, a story that they both enjoyed telling their children and grandchildren. They were married July 21, 1945, in Plymouth, England. Mrs. Emery immigrated to the U.S. in 1946 and proudly received her American citizenship, May 18, 1959. She was employed as a secretary and notary public for the law firm of Keith and Keith, Bangor, for approximately 30 years. Mrs. Emery often related vivid memories of surviving the war and the blitzkrieg. She frequently spoke of the many nights her family would spend in their bomb shelter and especially of the time a German incendiary bomb landed in her upstairs bedroom. Her father, a member of Plymouth Civil Defense Corps, carried the smoldering, unexploded shell down the stairs and out of the house in a bucket of sand, saving the home from certain destruction. She also was honored to relate her memories of World War II to the children in her son, John’s fifth grade class at Andover Elementary School, where he was a teacher. She was predeceased by her husband in 2001; and her brother, Ernest (Mick) Horrell in 2004. She is survived by her son, Brian and his wife, Linda, of Cumberland, their son, Christopher and his wife, Melissa, and son, Thomas Vaughn, of Standish; their daughter, Beth, of Boston, her son, John and his wife, Carol, their sons, Scott and his fiancee, Lisa Henry, and their daughter, Ava Grace, all of Andover and Nathan of Telluride, Colo.; her daughter, Heather Bowden and her husband, Keith Bowden, of Windham, their daughter, Wanda Lord and her husband, Edwin, of Pittsfield and son, Eric Bowden and his wife, Luba, and son, Simon, of Poulsbo, Wash.; many nieces and nephews. Patricia was a sweet, gracious woman, who dearly loved her family. She was a devoted wife and mother, always quick to offer both encouragement and praise to her children as they grew. She loved her son-in-law and daughters-in-law as she did her own children. In addition to her family, among her greatest loves were her native England, her lovely flower gardens and feeding the birds that came to her kitchen window feeder. She and her husband enjoyed many summers in Steuben and frequent day trips together to the Castine and Schoodic Point areas. Her family thanks the staff of Sed-gewood Commons, Falmouth, and Beacon Hospice Care for the excellent and compassionate care given to Mrs. Emery in her last illness. A celebration of her life will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at Holden Congregational Church, Holden, where she and Raymond lived, raised their family and were active members of their church for more than 40 years. The Rev. Harold Grove will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Emery’s name to Holden Congregational Church, 66 Church Road, Holden, ME 04429. Arrangements are under the guidance of Independent Death Care, 471 Deering Ave., Portland.