‘Something to remember me by’
By Taylor Brown
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Emma Swonger is always dolled up.
With her crisp white hair, shining teal-colored nail polish, sparkling rings and handmade bracelets, she always makes sure to look her best.
Emma, who will turn 101 on Thursday, doesn’t like to make a big deal about her birthdays. She has something special planned this year — but not for herself.
An Elizabeth Township native, Emma grew up in Buena Vista, where she met her husband, the late William Swonger, at a young age.
They married in their 20s and had two children together, Jean, who was born in 1943, and Tim, who was born in 1959.
As a homemaker, Emma always kept herself busy, not only with her children, church and household duties, but with a self-taught hobby, knitting and crocheting.
Her mother had tried to teach her the intricacies of sewing when she was young, but Emma claims she was never able to get the hang of it.
As a young adult, one day she stumbled on a how-to book and bought it for 10 cents.
“I could never learn from my mother, then one day I found this book, bought it for a dime and decided to teach myself,” she said. “I have been doing it ever since, practically all of my life.”
Her daughter, Jean, said her mother made beautiful blankets, afghans and clothing as she was growing up.
“I could knit just about anything, doilies, suits, skirts, jackets, sweaters, blankets,” Emma said.
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