Genevieve ""Jennie"" Emery 1911 ~ 2013

After celebrating her 102 birthday in August, Genevieve ""Jennie"" Marie Emery peacefully passed away on October 11, 2013 at the West Highland Centre on the west side of Lethbridge.

Born in Eveleth Minnesota on August 14, 1911, Jennie received her early education in Colemen, Alberta and went to normal school in Calgary, allowing her to become a teacher. In the pioneering spirit, she rode by horse to a one-room school house in Todd Creek, north of Cowley, Alberta, the start of a longer journey of 41 years as a school teacher. Jennie married Fred Emery in 1936 and had one child, Joan Johnson. As a school teacher, now in Coaldale, Jennie raised Joan and taught at I. R. Baker school, starting in 1944. Studying in Edmonton at the University of Alberta over several summers, Jennie eventually received a BA degree in Education, with a focus on Special Education. She later founded the first Special Education class in the County of Lethbridge. An avid world traveler, her vacations took her to Europe, Australia, China, Russia and South America. Jennie's passion for travel combined with her love of Classical history influenced both her choice of destination and the souvenirs and gifts she brought back home. Towards the end of her teaching career Jennie, graced a variety of committees concerned with innovation in the field of education including the Reading Sub-Committee, involved with researching the merits of new readers. She was acting chairman for the 1973 - 74 school year for a Professional Development Committee, and was on the Further Education Council for 10 years, filling a variety of roles, including reporter, vice president and president. As a gifted amateur actress she was an important part of the Coaldale Little Theatre, which travelled twice to the nation-wide Dominion Drama Festival. Photos of her prizing winning roles are now archived at the Galt Museum in Lethbridge. Her artistic talents also included the composition of poetry, often on request, and sometimes of a more serious nature such as her poem ""Prairie Wheat,"" which was read on the occasion of her 100th birthday. She was fond of reciting sections of poetry up to her last birthday. Also a gifted ceramic painter, Jennie's beautiful hand-painted ceramic plates and vases grace the homes of many friends and family, and provide a wonderful memory of her talent and passion for life. She was president of the Arts and Crafts council for over a decade. Jennie was the co-founder with Dr. Neal Johnson, of the Joan Johnson Memorial Scholarship, established at the University of Lethbridge to assist promising Education students. She also contributed annually to the music program of the school named after her, Jennie Emery Elementary School (JEES), located in Coaldale, Alberta. Jennie is survived by her grandson, Mark Johnson and is predeceased by her daughter, Joan Johnson, her sister Louise and two brothers, Frank and George. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins in Canada and the United States. The family of Jennie Emery wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to her medical caregivers and the well-wishers who tended her, visited her and buoyed her spirits. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the music program associated with Jennie Emery Elementary School or to the SOS Children's Villages (www.soschildrensvillages.ca) for under privileged children. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, October 25, 2013 at St. Martha's Catholic Church in West Lethbridge at 355 Columbia Blvd.