Published in the October 23, 2015 edition
WAKEFIELD — Emogene Faye Worthley, 88, of Wakefield, died peacefully in her sleep in hospice at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Born in Highland, Ill. on July 25, 1927, Emogene was the eldest of three daughters of the late Raymond and Elva Iberg.
Raised in Highland, Ill. and St. Louis, Mo., Emogene (“Emmy”) came to Wakefield as the bride of James E. Worthley of Wakefield in 1948. A dedicated wife and mother, Emmy was also a teacher at the Golden Rule Kindergarten in Wakefield from 1964 to 1974, when she became director of the Golden Rule Nursery School until 1985. Emmy’s love of children made her years at the nursery school the most enjoyable years of her life.
Emmy was devoted to her family and made a loving, warm, nurturing home. Emmy was a very talented artist; her home is adorned with many of her fine paintings and wood carvings and her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends were blessed to receive quilts, afghans, Christmas ornaments and other treasures that she stitched, knitted, crocheted or tatted.
Emmy loved the sanctuary and peace she found in gardening, enjoyed music and was fortunate to have traveled to many different places in both the United States and abroad.
Emogene is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, James; a daughter, Eileen Worthley of Wakefield, and a son, Thomas Worthley and his wife Catherine (Surette) of Higganum, Conn.. Emogene is also survived by four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Emily (Worthley-Seldon) Seward and her husband John Seward and their children Emma and Owen; Michael Worthley-Seldon; Travis Worthley and his wife Elizabeth (Briggs) Worthley and their daughter Alexandra; Caitlin Eliza (Worthley) Toffler and her husband Patrick Toffler; as well as her sister Wilma (Iberg) Altenbernd and her husband James Altenbernd of St. Louis, Mo. She was predeceased by her sister Blanche Iberg of Ankeny, Iowa.
Abiding with Emmy’s wishes, there will be a simple private service for the family and extended family. Friends who wish to pay their respects are invited to visit the family in their home at 15 Thistledale Rd., Wakefield on Saturday, Oct. 24, between 3 and 5 p.m. or Sunday, Oct. 25, between 2 and 5 p.m.
