Emelianne Mary St. George-Joly
Emelianne Mary St. George-Joly, 86, affectionately known as “Millie” to family and friends, passed into the Lord’s embrace at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, April 12, 2009. She died peacefully in her sleep under the watchful and caring eyes of the medical staff and volunteers of Hope Hospice at HealthPark in Fort Myers.
She was the 10th of 13 children born to Joseph and Laura S. George in the small town of Saint Michelle, near Montreal, in the Quebec Province of Canada.
She grew up in Taftville, Conn., where she would meet her husband of 48 years, Leo Joly, who went home to the Lord 10 years ago.
Together the couple nurtured a family of two daughters, Bernice (Ernest) Mossey of Cape Coral and Andrea McCall of Fort Myers; son, the Rev. Philip Joly of Cape Coral; grandchildren, Michelle (Berry) Allen, Luke (Shelly) Mossey, Christopher Mossey (Jamie Smarr), Erica (Bradley) Schricker and Danielle McCall; and great-grandchildren, Quinn and Kianna Mossey, Patrick Smarr, and Hannah and Ethan Schricker.
She is also survived by her sisters, Lucille (Monte) DiPalma, Rhea Durand, Gervaise Gauvin and Jeannine LaMothe, all of Connecticut.
She was preceded in the Resurrection to new life by her sisters, Mina, Yvette, Palma, Gabriel, Fern and Mary; and brothers, Eddie and Sylvio.
She will be remembered for a heart always ready to give and forgive. She will be remembered for her love of singing and storytelling and joking. She was a devoted wife and mother, and took tremendous joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She loved parties, picnics and family reunions. The annual St. George Reunion was one of her favorite events of the year, when she was able to catch up with her sisters in Connecticut as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was everyone’s favorite “tante,” French for aunt.
So to Mom, to Memere, to Mimi, to Tante Millie, we say thank you for the life you so abundantly shared with us.
We thank you for the gift of our lives. We will miss you greatly, and we love you very much.
Visitation will take place from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Coral Ridge Funeral Home, 1630 Pine Island Road. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 2628 Del Prado Blvd.
Donations on the family’s behalf may be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908, or St. Andrew School Endowment Fund.
Arrangements by Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery.