Individual Details

From the back of Ema's funeral card: Ema I. Harrington was born on February 12, 1908 in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of William and Clara (Brisco) Smith. She grew up in Waterloo, graduating from East High School in 1926. On November 5, 1927 she was united in marriage to Regis A. Harrington at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. Ema was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. Her whole life was centered around her family. She enjoyed making clothes and afghans for all the family, especially the grandchildren. She also would bake cakes and rolls for the family. She had a special candy drawer, and pop for the grandchildren. Ema had the first color TV in the family, so all the grandchildren wanted to go to her house to watch TV. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas, and Christmas Eve was their big family celebration. Ema was a big bingo player, and enjoyed playing bridge. In her younger days she was very active in all the church activities. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed.

Ema is survived by her daughter, Jo Ann (Wayne) Masters, Santa Teresa, New Mexico; two sons Claire (Anna Mary) Harrington, Oelwein, IA and Regis (Charlotte) Harrington, Augusta, Georgia; fifteen grandchildren, twenty five great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and a sister, Jeanne Bauer, Van Buren, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her husband, Regis in 1959; a son, Andrew; two sisters, Genevieve and May; three brothers, William, Harry and Howard; a grandson, Rev. Stephen Harrington; and her parents, William and Clara.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters of America, Little Flower Circle, Hospital Auxiliary, and the Antique Club.

Waterloo Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, December 15, 1999: Ema I. Harrington, 91, of Oelwein died Tues. (Wed.) Dec. 15 at Mercy Living Plus, Oelwein, after a lengthy illness; survivors include two sons, Claire of Oelwein and Regis of Augusta, Ga.; a daughter JoAnn Master of Santa Teresa, N.M.; 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren; and a sister, Jeanne Bauer of Van Buren, Mo.; she was preceded in death by her husband, Regis; a son, Andrew; two sisters, Genevieve and Mary (May); three brothers William, Harry and Howard Smith; and a grandson; services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, both in Oelwein; friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Hintz-Geilenfeld Funeral Home, Oelwein, where there will be a 4:30 p.m. Catholic Daughters of America rosary and a 7 p.m. parish rosary; a memorial fund has been established.

Birth	12 Feb 1908	Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa
Marriage	5 Nov 1927	Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa - Regis Arthur Harrington
Death	15 Dec 1999	Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa
Burial		Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa

Spouse	Regis Arthur Harrington (1907 - 1959)
Child	Andrew William Harrington (1929 - )
Child	Claire Harrington (1930 - )
Child	JoAnn May Harrington (1931 - 2012)
Child	Regis Arthur Harrington Jr. (1932 - 2016)

Father	William Ara Smith (1875 - 1943)
Mother	Clara Daisy Brisco (1884 - 1982)
Sibling	Henry Smith (1901 - 1901)
Sibling	Genevieve Clara Smith (1903 - 1975)
Sibling	William Carley Smith (1904 - 1994)
Sibling	May Blossom Smith (1905 - 1992)
Sibling	Harry Raymond Smith (1911 - 1984)
Sibling	Howard Ara Smith (1914 - 1997)
Sibling	Ila Jeanne Smith (1925 - )