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Patricia M. (nee Smith) Emerling, of Sarasota, FL and Magnolia, DE passed away peacefully on January 7, 2025 at Kent General Hospital with her loving sister by her side. Pat was born in Queens, NY in 1938 to Madeline (nee Lott) and Thomas E. Smith. She had two siblings, Thomas A. and Madeline F. (nee Smith) Greene.
Pat was an avid roller-skater in her younger days and met her future husband at the roller rink. Pat was even fortunate enough to skate in the NYC Thanksgiving Day parade in 1955. Pat and Frances William “Billy” Emerling were married on September 19, 1959 at St. Benedict Joseph Labre, Richmond Hill, NY. Patricia was employed by the William Esty Advertising Firm in midtown Manhattan as an administrative assistant before moving to Sarasota, Florida in 1981.
Pat will be remembered as a terrific host and a caring, attentive family member who was always right there when her family needed her. She loved flowers, both growing them and making beautiful arrangements, as well as cooking and experimenting with recipes. One fondly remembered treat that Pat would make with breakfast was yogurt with added fruit, which would be lovingly picked out before eating just the yogurt. Besides flowers, cooking and caring for family, Pat loved shopping. Oh, how she loved to shop!
She is survived by her sister Madeline Greene of Magnolia, DE; nephew Stuart Greene and fiancé Jessica Labosky of Seaford, DE and a niece Patricia Greene and fiancé Corey Meyers of Lincoln, DE; and the light of her life great-nephew Mason Meyers.
In addition to her parents, Patricia was predeceased by her husband Bill, her brother Tom, and nephew Thomas E. Smith.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday January 29, 2025 at Church of the Holy Cross, 631 South State Street, Dover, DE 19901. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in remembrance of Pat. Send donations to Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market Street, Suite 250, Philadelphia, PA 19106 or online at www.alz.org/delval. Online condolences may be made via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.
