Blanche I. Emich, 94

September 06, 2013

Blanche I. Emich, 94, of Lancaster, passed away on Friday, September 6, 2013 at Brethren Village. She was the daughter of the late H. Melvin and Ada (Garman) Binkley. She was the wife of the late John H. Emich who passed away in 2001 after 64 years of marriage.
Blanche attended East Hempfield High School where she played field hockey and ran track. She enjoyed playing violin and piano and was an exceptional seamstress and painter of local landscapes. Blanche loved following all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren in all of their sports activities. They affectionately called her “Ma”. She was an avid golfer and long time member of Conestoga Country Club and Schalamar Country Club in Lakeland, FL. Blanche qualified to play golf in the Senior Olympics in San Antonio, TX in 1995 by winning the Gold Medal in the Florida State Olympics, which was one of the grandest experiences of her life, competing with 8,000 athletes nationwide.
A member of the Lancaster General Hospital Auxiliary, East Petersburg Group, she also volunteered at Lancaster General Hospital for 40 years as a Gray Lady with the Red Cross Auxiliary.
Blanche was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, East Petersburg, since 1931. She was actively involved as a Sunday school teacher and as an Assistant Sunday school superintendent. Blanche formed and conducted the first junior choir for ages 6-12 and designed and made the children’s choir robes with the help of the Ladies Aide Society at the church.
She is survived by four children, Donald husband of Betty, Barry husband of Pamela both of East Petersburg, Patricia wife of Jack Lewicki of Lancaster, and Charlotte Shaub of Dover, DE. Nine grandchildren, Dave Emich, Lori Hunt, Keith and Chris Emich, Trish Sollenberger, Mark Lewicki, Sharon Baker, Trudy McKay and Rick Horst. Sixteen great grandchildren, Kurtney Emich, Christopher Fairbanks, Megan and Kelly Hunt, Hall Emich, Drew and Erin Sollenberger, Jordan, Jeremy and Seth Lewicki, Chloe and Elise Baker, Shawn, Alison and Madilyn McKay, and Gunnar Horst.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 1:00 PM at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1905 Broad St., East Petersburg, PA 17520 with the Rev. Mary Margaret Ruth and the Rev. Dan Long officiating. Visitation with the family will be held from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM at the church. Private interment will be at East Petersburg Mennonite Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Blanche’s memory may be sent to Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Dr., PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604.