PORTLAND – Josephine “Billie” Warren (Sherburne) Emanuelson, 95, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, at St. Joseph’s Manor. She was wife of the late Millard E. Emanuelson, who died May 8, 1989. She was born Oct. 31, 1914, in Monson, a daughter of the late William Frederick and Josephine (Goode) Sherburne. She attended Newton High School and received an honorary doctorate of oratory at Staley College, Boston, in 1956. Her heart was always in Monson. It was not summer unless she was at the family camp in Monson. “Billie,” as she was nicknamed because her father wanted a boy, danced as a ballerina at Roxy Theatre, Club 21 and several other clubs in many major cities across the U.S. during the depression and the years that followed. She also headlined for the final Vaudeville show, Anatol Friedlander. She was a past regent of the DAR – Daughters of the American Revolution, a member of Elizabeth Wadsworth Chapter, Portland and was one of the founding members of Tisbury Manor Chapter, Monson. Billie was a member of Women Literary Union, Portland, and taught parliamentary law for several years during the 50s and 60s. Josephine served on the board of Cerebral Palsy, Portland, and Milestone Foundation, and served on the committee and then headed the committee for Development Disability Council for several years. Billie also served on Republican Portland City Committee, Republican Cumberland County Committee, Republican Washington County Committee and Republican State Committee from Washington County. She also headed the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals for a year, and was a member of the Maine chapter of the Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America. She is survived by her son, William E. “Buster” Emanuelson of Portland; her daughter, Diane E. Lowell of Westbrook; and a grandson, Lee W. Lowell of Westbrook. She was also the grandmother of the late Ingrid Ann Lowell, who died in 1982. The family expresses their thanks to VNA, South Portland and the staff at St. Joseph’s Manor for their support and care. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, where a funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. Burial will be held at a later date at Hillside Cemetery, Monson. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to The Monson UCC, North Guilford Road, P.O. Box 204, Monson, ME 04464 or your local animal shelter.
JOSEPHINE ‘BILLIE’ WARREN (SHERBURNE) EMANUELSON
