She was born Emma Pauline Coble on October 4, 1924 to Shelly & Janie Pauline Coble of Greensboro, NC. She was the youngest of six.
At the age of 2 years, She was adopted and raised by her Adoptive Parents, Doc & Emma Willis, also of Greensboro. They all worked on their family farm during the Great Depression. After high school, Emily attended King’s Business College in Raleigh, NC.
She met the love of her life, Carl Erlebach, in 1941 and they married on October 18, 1945, at the end of WWII, at the Glenwood Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. They settled in Bath, Maine that same year where Carl worked at his family’s grocery store, Ma Roy’s, and they started their family of seven children.
On top of being an amazing wife, mother and an amazing cook, Mom ran a small baking business from our home. She catered to private parties, the Ledges Inn in Wiscasset, and the cosmopolitan club in Bath. She taught Sunday School at The Winter Street Church / UCC in Bath. She also worked at Bowman’s Restaurant on Center St. She was a school lunch time aid at Dike Newell School during the early 1970s as well.
Self taught on the harmonica, she truly enjoyed music, dancing and knitting. She knitted 86 afghans, 99 sweaters and countless shawls, hats, mittens & scarves.
As with everything she did, she worked tirelessly as an active member of the UCC Called to Care and Prayer Shawl Knitting Group. Her cheerfulness, kindness and love of others were with her to the end and touched the lives of all who knew her. The love and light in our mother’s eyes will be deeply missed.
She was predeceased by her husband of 52 beautiful years, Carl Erlebach, who passed away on December 22,1997. Eldest son, Ronald C Erlebach, April 22, 1992. And her siblings Capt Vernon , Charlie , Mildred, Virginia & Novella; Son-in- Laws Melvin Gaston July 1995 and Ronald Taylor December 2013
She is survived and ever so lovingly remembered by her 7 children: Sons: David C Erlebach of Bath & Barry Fraser & his wife Phoebe of Cundy’s Harbor; Daughter’s: Stephanie Theresa Gaston of Portsmouth, NH, and Pauline Suter of Bath and Dorine Rowell and her husband Norman Rowell of Bath and Malinda Taylor of Brunswick and Amanda Fowler and her husband Hal Fowler of Woolwich. 20 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren!
Our little Mommy wishes to thank all of her family, friends, CHANS & Hospice and especially her “Mosey” for all of their loving kindness and care.
At Emily’s request, there will be no funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Bodwell House in Brunswick or The American Cancer Society.
A Celebration of her beautifully Loved Life will be held at a later date.
To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.
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