Always Emma

ALWAYS EMMA

 

40 years can seem like such a long time, and yet in looking back, it quickly seems to meld into a wonderful flood of memories. Emma was my visiting teacher long ago. It was about the time that she was making small cloth dolls and encouraging our Relief Society sisters that this was an easy fun project! That December during our Visiting Teaching visit, she gave me one of her little cloth dolls to put on our Christmas tree. I still have and cherish that doll. She was a wonderful visiting teacher.

 

Then there was another of her “encouraging projects” for our Relief Society sisters. We all were on tight budgets and she decided we needed a Homemaking meeting to learn how to make ties for our husbands. (That would be an excellent way to expand their tie wardrobe!) She instructed us that these were very easy =” just iron on the pellon and press the folds!”

Well, her ties were very professional and one thought they could have been from Nordstrom’s. Ted wore his to church and looked really “spiffy!” I must admit that I never saw a husband who wore the tie to church that their wives had lovingly made for them!  Bless Emma’s heart; she never gave up on us! She was always encouraging and humorous as she tried to lead us to improving some of our “artistic” skills!

 

Emma helped Bob and me with arranging our “Eagle Scout” wall, which later became the “Family” wall with Jill’s awards.

Our 3 sons had attained their Eagle Scout recognition awards, along with other certificates and awards and we were at a loss and totally helpless trying to figure out what to do. I think that Emma took only a minute to decide just what to do with all these things on the floor. She loving arranged everything on the floor, explaining that is what you do prior to “putting holes into the wall!” Everything was mounted and hung on the wall in no time and I think of her every time I that I go past them. She also helped arrange a display old optical instruments and tools at Bob’s office. He constantly received compliments and was asked why some of the items didn’t fall down. That was Emma’s secret!

 

We did have a hilarious experience with Emma while mailing a package at the Royal Oak Post Office in Sacramento. Emma was so frustrated and almost in tears because the postal clerk would not let her apply for a passport. Apparently she did not have one piece of identification that was needed and the postal clerk was not sympathetic at all. We tried to help her by verifying that she was the one and only Emma Allebes but to no avail!

I don’t believe that she ever traveled to Australia to pick Heather from her Church Mission. She bought the fabric store in Fair Oaks and renamed it, TAYO’S Fabrics, and began to really grow in fame. Her talents grew like Ted’s garden and she became a highly acclaimed teacher and friend to all.

 

I know that she eventually got her passport as she and Ted traveled widely visiting friends and family in Holland to Thailand and in between. Certainly by then, EVERYONE knew or knew of Emma Allebes! There is only one Emma – talented, giving, friendly, caring, loving, funny, unique, gracious and EVER ORGANIZED!

 

Ted and Emma have a wonderful family. They have raised their girls well and set wonderful examples. They are two of the most talented artistic and loving couples that I know. I am grateful for the time their family has had to be together this past weekend; husband (Ted), daughters and their husbands,

children, grand children, and great grand children. Good visits,

laughter, tears, videos and memories.

 

We must always remember the most important attribute about Emma:

She has been obedient and strong in her faith.

 

She is a daughter of our Heavenly Father.

 

Her family is an Eternal Family

 

And they will be together again.

 

We love you Emma, Ted, Shenna, Heather, and Reaka. We will all have such fond memories.

 

Dorothy Miller