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Emma C. Ferriabough was born on June 13, 1926, in Elizabeth, NJ to the late William P. Banks Sr. and the late Daisy Reid Lee Banks. She was the oldest of four children. She peacefully departed this earth on July 22, 2020, at the wonderful age of 94.
Emma was raised in Elizabeth, NJ. During World War II, she met William H. Ferriabough and relocated to Boston, MA where they were married. To this union, eight children were born. Emma completed her high school studies and worked for the Harvard University School of Public Health while raising a family. She later retired from Shawmut Bank where she worked in the Bonds department.
Emma and William were married for 38 years. William joined the Fraternal Order of the Free and Accepted Masons while Emma joined The Order of the Eastern Star. William predeceased Emma in 1982.
In later years, Emma met Rupert Walcott, her longtime companion. They spent more than 20 years together, traveling, laughing, and enjoying hours of conversation. The family is grateful for the joy that Rupert brought their mother.
To know Emma was to love her. She had a strong constitution and mental stamina. She had a patient and calm demeanor, yet a sharp and sarcastic wit that made her charming and quite hilarious. She was a favorite to all of the neighborhood children and families. She loved to host and entertain with a full spread of everyone’s “must-have” foods, like her famous clam dip, her amazing gravy, and her “can’t say no” salad. Her table settings always included her favorite 50-year old butter dish.
Emma always carried herself with great dignity, class, and poise. She loved perfume, jewelry, and welcomed every opportunity to wear her sequined clothing. She was always ready to dress up and head to one of her favorite casinos whether it was in Connecticut, Atlantic City or Las Vegas.
Emma loved music and enjoyed arts and crafts. She also loved sewing, knitting, and crocheting. If you look around her home, you would find a blanket, throw, coaster, ornament or painting she created.
Emma was preceded in death by her sister Daisy, her brother William, and her five sons Ronald, William Jr., Douglas, Philip, and Michael and most recently a grandchild Curtis.
She is survived by her sister Ethel of New Jersey and three daughters Catherine, Linda, and Judith of Massachusetts and her companion Rupert Walcott. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Emma was a true matriarch who set the footprint for the family to follow. She will be missed dearly, yet we are forever grateful to have had her with us for as long as we did.
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