Obituary of Emma Spohn

Emma M. Spohn, 97, died Saturday, Jan.3, 2009, at Elim Park Baptist Home, Cheshire, where she was a resident for over 20 years. She was born June 1, 1911 in Reutlingen, Germany, the daughter of Gustav and Emma (Steinhilber) Spohn. She immigrated in 1928 to the United States from Ofterdingen, Germany, sailing with her family aboard the Derfflinger, then settled in Patterson, NJ. She became a U.S. citizen in 1931 at the age of 19. Before her retirement, she was a housekeeper and nanny for Drs. Mary Miller and Gerhard Mack of Cheshire. From 1960-63 is was a cook at Elim Park. Prior to that, in the 1940s and 1950s, she was employed as a cook at the Pacific Gardens Mission in Chicago. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Cheshire, where at one time she sang in the choir and directed the church's nursery program. She is survived by a sister, Marianne Biggs of Cape May, NJ; four nephews, Walter Spohn of Redding, CA, Gustav Spohn of Hamden, CT, Kurt Spohn of Honolulu, HA, and Albert Spohn of Rochester, MN; four nieces, Isabelle Spohn of Twisp, WA, Carol Sieb of Montville, NJ, Anna Romero of Draper, UT, and Barbara Lillo of Littleton, CO; two sisters-in-law, Anna Lois Spohn of Littleton, CO, and Isabelle Spohn of Rochester, MN; and many great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, Gustav Spohn of Satellite Beach, FL, and Walter Spohn of Littleton, CO. A memorial service will be held March 2, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Elim Park Baptist Home in Cheshire. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Baptist Church of Cheshire, 55 Country Club Rd., Cheshire, CT 06410 or to the Elim Park Benevolent Fund, 150 Cook Hill Rd., Cheshire, CT 06410. Slater Funeral Home, 242 South Main St., Cheshire, is in charge of arrangements.