Obituary of Emma Violet Gillespie Ridley

Emma Violet Gillespie Ridley peacefully passed on at home on Thursday January 28, 2010 with her family by her side. Emma, affectionately known as Skip, had a passion for the people in her life and life itself. Born in Media Pennsylvania on June 22, 1920, to Emma and Harold A. Gillespie, Emma grew up with two wonderful sisters, Joanne and Mary and brother Harold Jr.. She graduated from Media High School with honors and was the first in her family to attend college at Temple University and graduating from Cornell University-New York Hospital School of Nursing in 1942 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and her RN license. Then she married the love of her life, James B. Ridley MD. Shortly after, Jim was called to duty during the war setting up M.A.S.H. units on the China, Burma,India, Road. Emma went home to Media doing private nursing and later joined the staff at Chester Hospital where she had been born. After the war, Emma and Jim settled in Englewood New Jersey where they set up his medical office where she served as the nurse to his patients. They had three sons, Jim Jr, Bruce and Brian and daughter Debbie. In their 30 years in Englewood, Emma was very active in her church, cub and girl scout leading, womens groups and became the Dwight-Englewood School Nurse, where her children attended high school. Emma and Jim traveled throughout the world, loving every minute. And being only 14 miles from the George Washington Bridge, you couldn't keep Emma away from the wonders and lights of New York. They retired to Satellite Beach in 1980 where they found the waterfront property of their dreams, where Emma hosted parties of all sorts and welcomed every person who came through the door. People were blessed by her love, just as she was blessed by theirs. Emma was predeceased by her husband and her eldest son. She leaves to cherish her memory her children, and siblings and grandchildren, Elisa Ridley, Richard Nenoff, Jennifer Nenoff and Katherine Ridley and Great Grandson, Max Ridley Greene and son-in-law Richard S. Nenoff and daughter-in-law Susan Ridley. A celebration of her life will take place at 11:00am on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 638 South Patrick Drive, Satellite Beach, Fl. A reception immediately following the services will take on her back porch by the waterfront at 426 Skylark Blvd. Emma will be interred with her husband in a private ceremony at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trinity Presbyterian or Hospice of Health First.