Connie Emery died Tuesday. Longtime Fall River Peace activist. Herald News obit:
Constance Emery
Constance Mae Stevens Emery, 86, longtime Somerset community activist, died peacefully Tuesday, May 19, 2009. She was the wife of the late Rev H Merrill Emery and daughter of the late Ora F Wilkins and Harold C Stevens. She was the beloved sister of Eleanor E Owen of Oberlin Ohio. Along with her sister, survivors include her children David B Emery of Somerset, Elizabeth C Tidwell of Westport, and Jonathan Emery of Livermore California, and seven nieces and nephews. Connie was the very proud grandmother of Owen Ivey, Casey Rose, and Matthew David Tidwell of Westport. Born and raised in Salem Mass, she lived in Somerset since 1956. As had Eleanor, she graduated with top honors from Salem High School where she was active in many student groups and dramatic productions. After studying nursing, she attended graduate programs at Andover Newton Theological School, where she met her late husband Merrill. Soon afterward she joined in his calling to serve the UCC Congregational Christian Church of Somerset, where she was active for over 50 years. Serving as Church secretary for most of that time, Connie was also a driving force behind the Church’s progressive religious education programs for many years. With the Church as foundation, she became one of the area’s leading social justice champions creating the LIFE program at the Church and organizing numerous area interfaith programs and exchanges throughout the 60s and 70s. Her community activism also extended into local and national political causes. Ms Emery was a fearless advocate and member of local chapters of the National Organization of Women and Nuclear Disarmament groups. Her dedication to the community included serving as a tireless citizen watchdog attending Somerset Board of Selectmen meetings faithfully each week through countless political issues and leadership changes. Constance will also be remembered as the founder of United Families Inc., a non-profit organization serving mentally ill adults in the Fall River area. Her three decades of dedication to the UFI cause helped protect and advance the rights, dignity, and quality of life for innumerable Somerset area clients and families. During her later years she was able to aid UFI and several other social justice missions by creating and operating the UFI Gift Shop at Pottersville Place. A pioneer in the Fair Trade movement, the Gift Shop worked with SERRV organization to offer handcrafted items made by impoverished overseas artisans as well as items promoting other globally responsible charities such as Heifer International and UNICEF. In addition to her abiding sense of social justice, friends and family will always fondly remember Connie’s joy when bird watching and her love and mastery of the written word. She was a published poet and spent countless hours composing letters, articles, and newsletters. One of her favorite pastimes in recent years was challenging her grandchildren to best her in word games. The gift of her intelligence, wit, and passion lives on in them, and especially in her son, David. All are invited to attend a memorial service and collation to be held at 2PM on Sunday May 31, 2009 at the Congregational Christian Church, 1411 County Street, Somerset. Connie requested that in lieu of flowers friends and family do an act of justice in her honor. Memorial donations may be made to the Emery Scholarship Fund at the Church, Hiefer International, SERRV, or UNICEF. All arrangememnts have been entrusted to the care of the HATHAWAY HOME for FUNERALS 1813 Robeson St., Fall River. www.hathawayfunerals.com.
