Emily Amalia Johnson

Emily Johnson left this life on February 11, 2010, finishing her race strong and eagerly anticipating heaven, without any fear, knowing she had lived her life to the fullest, doing the important things. She served her Lord joyfully and faithfully throughout her 84 years, giving herself whole-hearted to the many endeavors about which she was passionate: her family and friends, children, education, and political involvement to urge policies and programs to improve our community. She was active until the end of her life, and she demonstrated what another has said, "I could not at any age be content to take my place in the corner by the fireside and simply look on" ( Eleanor Roosevelt). Emily was the daughter of Dutch immigrants, John and Marie (Van Gys) De Fisher. Marie came to the U.S on the last ship before WWI, and is listed on the Ellis Island Register. Emily had a brother, Arthur (deceased) and has a sister, Amalia Emily Byerts (a retired teacher). While her father didn't have schooling beyond the third grade and her mother beyond the eighth grade, Emily's mother was committed to education, reading constantly, and sacrificing her wages as a cleaning lady to provide the best for her family, including cello lessons for Emily. Arthur left school at an early age to work on the farm and support the family during the Depression, after their father broke his leg on a farming job. Emily went to college at Roberts Weslyan College, and supported herself while working at Kodak's photo-processing plant. Emily finished her college by going one year to Houghton College, where she shared a room with her sister. Emily has always been a "morning person", while Mollie was the "night owl." At graduation from Houghton in 1948, she had a big board across her shoulders, which was to heal the collar bone she broke on a bicycle trip to Letchworth Park, right before finals. Since there were not sufficient funds to go to medical school, she received a Masters in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University School of Nursing in 1951. She was an instructor and supervisor at the Highland School of Nursing in Rochester, NY, and the Vassar Hospital School of Nursing in Poughkeepsie, New York. She became the best nurse that she could, serving as a school nurse teacher for 23 years at Sophie Finn and Kennedy Schools in Kingston. During this time, she also trained as a nurse practitioner. Emily married Ellsworth Lowell Johnson, now a retired IBM engineer, on July 25, 1953. Together, they raised five children and two foster children. Emily took 12 years off from paid employment, while she cared for her children that were born about one year apart, and participated in many other activities at the same time, including the League of Women Voters, the Library, the YMCA, and church activities. She returned to work when her youngest child started first grade. Emily Johnson served in her church in many ways over the years. She was Christian Education Committee Chair, a Sunday School and Junior Church teacher, and served as Sunday School Superintendant at Grace Community Evangelical Church for more than 20 years. She was a driving force in creating the Bible Memory Program in 1993, which she regarded as one of her most worthwhile projects. She found great joy in working with the Mothers of Preschoolers program, serving young mothers and children. She also started the Conversational Dinners to help the church family strengthen their relationships. While she was busy singing in the choir and other activities, she was still able to find out when her boys, Bruce and Brian, left the church building to play in the muddy stream and catch frogs with other boys. Emily served her community in many ways. She was a charter member of the League of Women Voters in Kingston, and served as its first president in 1961. She served as Co-Chairman of the Kingston City Charter Revision Commission, and twice on the Ulster County Charter Commission, most recently participating in the institution of the county manager form of government in Ulster County. She devoted six years to the children of Kingston, first as a member and then President of the School Board. She was one of the first women elected as a Director of the YMCA. She served as Vice-President of the Trustees of the Kingston Area Library, and served on the Kingston Housing Authority. She also served as a Director of the Ulster County Home Health Association. She was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and the Ulster County Task Force for Child Abuse. In 1992, Emily was honored by the YWCA's Tribute to Women. She served as a court monitor for the Modern Courts Study of the Kingston City Court in 1993. In 2008, Emily was a Susan B. Anthony Honoree by the League of Women Voters Mid-Hudson Region. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Ulster County BOCES Board of Education, a Commissioner on the Ulster Youth Board, and a Court-Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer, acting as a child's advocate and neutral to advise the Judge when they become involved with the court system. Emily remained interested in everyone and everything through her illness, constantly asking about her nurses, family and friends. She was a most appreciative patient, thanking everyone for the smallest service. She treasured the many notes that she received. Emily closed her life the way she lived it: concern for others, thankfulness, courage, and praising her Lord in scripture and song. Born on October 25, 1925, she was the daughter of the late John and Marie (Van Gys) De Fisher. Survivors include a sister, Amalia E. Byerts, of Rochester, New York, six children, Linda M. Johnson Terner of Kingston, New York, Laura J. Decker of Kingston, New York, Bruce E. Johnson of Fredericksburg, VA, Brian L. Johnson of New York, NY, and Louise A. Johnson of Hawthorne, NJ, nine grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. A brother, Arthur DeFisher, died previously Reposing at the Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. on Saturday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A Service of Celebration and Remembrance will be conducted at the Grace Community Evangelical Free Church (www.gcefc.org) 160 Seremma Court, Lake Katrine, NY 12449. (845-382-2288)on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Montrepose Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Samaritan's Purse, POB 3000, Boone, NC 28607 (www.Samaritan'spurse.org ) Directions to the church from Route 9W, turn at Grant Ave. Continue 0.2 miles and turn right at Serema Ct. for 0.5 miles. Church is on the left. Directions to the cemetery (from the Church): 1. Head south on Serema Ct toward Grant Ave 0.5 mi 2. Take the 1st left onto Grant Ave 0.2 mi 3. Turn right at Ulster Ave/US-9W S 1.3 mi 4. Slight left at E Chester St/US-9W S Continue to follow US-9W S 1.5 mi 5. Continue onto E Chester St 1.7 mi (cross Broadway) and continue on West Chester Street. 6. Montrepose Cemetery is at the end of the street on the right.