Lifelong Geneva Resident, Mom Of 6 And Active Volunteer Dies At Age 87

GENEVA, IL - Gloria Emma, a lifelong resident of Geneva, died this past Monday at the age of 87. Emma spent her life giving back to her community in addition to raising her six children and helping to establish and grow her husband's Geneva-based architectural firm before opening her own business in town in the 1980s. The woman, whose resume of accomplishments is lengthy, will be remembered during a memorial celebration on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State Street in Geneva.

A celebration of life will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday followed by a liturgical service at 6:45 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday with Celebrant Father Jonathan Bakkelund at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Road in Geneva.

Emma was born on June 5, 1930, in Geneva and graduated from Geneva High School in 1948. She was employed as a bookkeeper and assistant at The Little Traveler.

In 1951, she married Thomas Emma of Geneva. According to her obituary, "Gloria helped establish and manage Tom’s architectural firm in Geneva where, in 1982, she also opened her own firm, Brochures Unlimited, specializing in the marketing of professional services."

Besides directing volunteer services in local hospitals, she also coordinated a recovery program for women after breast surgery and led a successful campaign in 1974 for Congress to expand medicare coverage costs for post-mastectomy products, according to a news release from the city of Geneva.

Other notable accomplishments include being named Historian Emerita of the Geneva History Museum, opening her own business firm, serving as a Kane County election judge and publishing a book on her grandfather, former Chicago Mayor DeWitt Clinton Cregier.

According to her obituary, Emma was a devoted mother who had a passion to give back to her community and to document history.

"She had a great sense of humor and zest for life. She leaves a legacy of strength and courage which is kept alive by her loving family," according to her obituary.

The city of Geneva flag outside city hall in Geneva has been lowered to half staff in memory of Emma. he U.S. and State flags have been lowered at the direction of the Governor's Office in remembrance of Illinois State Trooper Ryan Albin. These flags will be raised at the close of business July 6.

More via Emma's obituary.

Photo via Malone Funeral Home website/Gloria Emma's obituary