Obituary of Nora Caffrey Emerson

Nora Caffrey Emerson rejoined the one true love of her life when she died with family Friday, January 5, 2018 in her Forestburgh home. She was 96. She was born July 18, 1921 in Phoenix, New York to the late John Caffrey and Mary Joyce Caffrey, the eldest of three sisters who grew to adulthood. A young brother, John, died as a very young child. Both of her sisters, Mary Hubbard (nee Caffrey) and Carol Richards Pendergrass (nee Caffrey) predeceased her. She graduated from Phoenix High School in 1939 having skipped the sixth grade and being placed into seventh grade a year early. After graduation she attended business school in nearby Syracuse, New York from where she graduated with distinction. On July 4, 1942, she married her life-long love and soulmate, Basil B. "Red" Emerson. They were married for more than 65 years until his death on December 2, 2007. The only time they were ever separated for any extended period of time was during Red's military service in Europe during W. W. II. They had three children; a daughter, Lochie Emerson Musso, and two sons, John Warren Emerson and Basil David Emerson. In addition to her children she is survived by four grandsons, Kenneth Emerson Musso, Jason William Musso, Gregory John Emerson and Donald Caffrey Emerson. She was also predeceased by her son-in-law, Kenneth Musso, and daughter-in-law Cathy Brown Emerson. Before moving to Forestburgh in 1973, she lived in Rockland County where she worked many years for the Rockland Board of Cooperative Educational Services retiring as Chief of Accounts. After her retirement from BOCES she and her husband spent 10 years working as representatives for the educational publishing firm Richards Publishing Co. In accordance with her final wishes her remains will be cremated and there will be no services. She also requested that any memorial contributions be made to the Forestburgh Fire Department, 2539 Route 42, Forestburgh, NY 12777. Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Monticello NY; for additional information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com