Mary Jane Emerson passed away on Sunday, July 17, 2022 at the age of 94. Born on August 13, 1927 in Pittsburgh, PA, she was the second daughter of Jesse and Mary Pearl Pritchard.
She married Roger H. Emerson, also of Pittsburgh, in 1955. The couple moved to Akron, OH in 1960, where they raised a family of three children. After Roger’s death in 1980, Jane remarried to the Rev. Richard Smilie in 1985. She was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church, most notably Westminster Church in Akron where her remains will be interred. A skilled secretary, Jane served the president of Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh and at various churches and public schools in the Akron area prior to retiring from Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in 1986. She moved into Westminster/Canterbury on the Chesapeake in Virginia Beach, VA in 2010, where she resided until her death.
There was never an adventure that Jane was not ready to meet. Camping and car trips were always a great way to see new places and find way to family. One of her favorite activities at
Westminster/Canterbury was the monthly “Mystery Breakfast.” She got up early to go by bus to whatever fun destination the activities director had planned and even suggested a venue or two.
Jane enjoyed helping others and used her skills to be secretary of many of the committees she served. After retirement, and while at Westminster/Canterbury she enjoyed volunteering at the library, which was a reflection of her lifelong love of reading.
Even while experiencing diminished health and capacities, especially since the onset of the pandemic, Jane maintained her sense of humor, her genuine gratitude for life’s blessings, and her deep faith. She met life’s changes and chances with a consistent appreciation for what she had.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents, older sister, Margaret Glenn, brother-in-law Maxwell Glenn, nephew Gerry Glenn, brother-in law William Emerson, sister-law Susan Emerson, and both of her husbands.
She is survived by her daughter Kathleen Stewart (and husband H. McKee) of Akron, daughter Karen Richardson (and husband the Rev. Robert), of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, son the Very Rev. Dr. Keith Emerson of Suffolk, VA, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous other family members, including Bruce Glenn of Littleton, CO with whom she was especially close.
Donations in honor of her life may be made to the Westminster/Canterbury on the Chesapeake Fellowship Fund, 3100 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451. Jane’s family is especially grateful for the loving care and attention she received from the staff of this fine facility.
