Emma Jane Kemerer

  General Notes:

From the Reformed Church Record.

Departed this life, June 10, 1890, Mrs. Emma J., wife of Elmer Steele, and daughter of Jacob W. and Lydia A. Kemerer, aged 26 years, 7 months and 9 days. Sister Emma was a most faithful and devoted member of the Emanuel Reformed congregation, Manor Dale, Westmoreland Co., Pa. In infancy she was given to God in baptism, Dr. Hacke performing the sacred and solemn ordinance. In her fifteenth year, after a full and thorough course of catechetical instruction she, with seventeen other young persons, was admitted into full communion with the Christian Church by the solemn and impressive rite of confirmation, by her pastor, the Rev. J. F. Snyder. During all these years she was a faithful and devoted worshipper, never absent from the services of the sanctuary and the holy communion, except when providentially prevented. She was one of God's meek, quiet, kind, gentle, unassuming, uncomplaining saints. Although physically delicate (she surpassed many a robust, healthy Christian in her faithful attendance upon the services of the sanctuary and the means of grace. She was the light and joy of the home in sickness as well as in health. With a calm and cheerful countenance, as an angel of mercy, she would go from bed to bed and tenderly minister to suffering loved ones. When La Grippe prostrated the members of the family, and brought her mother to the point of death, for long weary days and nights, as an affectionate and devoted wife, a dutiful and loving daughter, a kind and gentle sister, she tenderly cared for them. When health again began to visit the family, in the providence of God she was called to walk through the deep waters of affliction. The dear babe that God had given her was after a few hours' illness removed from earth. Her heart bled under this new and sore bereavement, but by the grace of God she gave it up without one murmuring word. Stricken down by fever, her illness was of short duration. The messenger came suddenly, but did not find her unprepared. Months before she departed, while in her usual health, she had set apart a sum of money for keeping in repair the beautiful God's acre in which her body now sleeps. By her earnest Christian life, her faithfulness and devotion, her legacy to the church, what a memorial she reared, more enduring than granite or marble!

"Soldier of God, well done ! Rest from thy loved employ; The battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy Master's joy."

Emma married Elmer Charles Steel, son of James Mc Cutcheon Steele and Hannah C. Lauffer. (Elmer Charles Steel was born on 17 Mar 1877 and died on 1 Apr 1959.)