Scarlett Sophia Emerson

Scarlett Sophia Emerson of Penn Yan, who struggled courageously with pancreatic cancer – and largely succeeded in doing it her way – died peacefully with family present at Keuka Comfort Care Home Wednesday, July 17.  She was surrounded by the friendship of too many to number for the last several months.

The family will receive friends at Perkins-Ames Funeral Home in Gorham, Friday, July 26 from 6–8 PM.  A funeral celebration will be on Saturday, July 27 at 11 a.m. at her church, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Penn Yan.  A light lunch will follow in the fellowship hall.

Memorial donations in Scarlett’s memory may be made to Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 179 Main St., Penn Yan, NY 14527, marked for Immigration/Migrant Justice fund, Keuka Comfort Care Home, PO Box 107, Penn Yan, NY 14527, or the charity of your choice.

Scarlett was born on February 11, 1940, the daughter of Sanford and Sophia (Voorhees) Emerson.  She graduated from Middlesex Valley Central School in 1957.  A 1961 graduate of St. Lawrence University, she moved to Philadelphia where she lived for almost 20 Years.  While in Philadelphia Scarlett was employed at the University of Pennsylvania, the Community College of Philadelphia, and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.  She received a Master of Divinity Degree in 1975 from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

She returned to Yates County in 1980 and held positions in various organizations.  She retired in 2005 from Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes after 9 ½ years.  In retirement she was employed in a part-time position as Project Assistant in the Intercultural Affairs Office at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Scarlett was active in her parish, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, where she held several leadership positions.  Her strong faith has always led her to be involved in many groups working for social justice including most recently the Penn Yan Action Coalition.  Her volunteerism also included the Yates Concert Series, Friends of the Penn Yan Library, Yates County History Center, and Literacy Volunteers of Ontario-Yates Counties.

She had a gift for connecting with people in her daily life.  Those blessed to know her well might readily say she was insightful.  Loved to laugh.  Knew what she liked, also was open to learning something new.  She was determined.  A strength to be reckoned with.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and Jim Hilton, nephews Jeremy (Clare) Hilton and Jason (Jennifer) Hilton, niece, Alicia (Scott) Carlson, two grand-nieces (Natalie and Megan Hilton) and two grand-nephews (Christian and Kyle Hilton).

Please visit www.kenperkinsfuneralhome.com to send a message of condolence to Scarlett’s Family.