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BORN
1936
DIED
2025
FUNERAL HOME
Elly Emling Obituary
Elly Marie Emling April 11, 1936 – January 11, 2025
A celebration of life will be held for Elly Marie Emling on Friday, January 24 , 2025. Elly, left us peacefully on January 11, 2025, at the age of 88, in St. Lucie, Florida. Born on April 11, 1936, in Utrecht, Holland, Elly lived a life full of love, resilience, and grace.
Elly’s early years were shaped by the challenges and beauty of growing up in the Netherlands. She emigrated to the United States in her youth and became a US citizen. A long time resident of Palm Coast, FL, Elly spent many years devoted to her late husband, Richard “Dick” Emling and their years as business owners in the gift and home accessories industry.
Her love for her family and friends was immeasurable. Elly loved the water, sunshine, the Green Bay Packers, a good game of Aggravation and all things “Dutchie”. Elly was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and a charter member of the Palm Coast Yacht Club.
She is survived by her five sons, Richard “Rick” (Julie) Groonwald, Randy (Jodi) Groonwald, Rory (Sue) Groonwald, all of WI. Scott (Dawn) Emling and Shawn (Amy) Emling of FL. Step-Daughter, Kay (Larry) Anason and Step-Son, Jay Emling of WI. Elly was the proud grandmother of many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is also survived by her sisters Johanna Morrow and Jantina (Donald) Adriano, as well as her brothers, Fred (Nancy) DeBoer, Dick (Judy) DeBoer and sister-in-law Susan DeBoer.
She is preceded in death by her late husband, Richard “Dick” Emling, parents, Willem and Marie DeBoer, brother Bill “Pim” DeBoer, and brother-in-law, Richard “Dick” Chuck Morrow.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Friday, January 24th at 11:00 a.m. with inurnment following in the church columbarium.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Elly may be made to our local Hospice vitas.com or Alzheimer’s Association act.alz.org.
Arrangements are being taken care of by Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations, 39 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast, FL 32137.
She will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on in all of us.
Memories and Condolences
for Elly Emling
7 Entries
Rick Groonwald
February 5, 2025
Thank you, Father, for this opportunity to tell moms story, I am her eldest son Rick, and I would like to speak about Elly, our moms' travels, the love she shared, her perseverance, and triumphs of life.
Mama is geboren in Utrecht Nederland 11 April 1936. Ze was de tweede van 6 kinderen van Willem en Marie so sorry, mom understands this, maybe not so much the rest of us. Mom understands, so I’ll translate for the rest of us;
Mom was born in Utrecht, Holland April 11, 1936. She was the second of 6 children of Willem and Marie. Netty, Bill, Jan, Dick, and Fred. Mom experienced the hardship of war as a young girl, and she shared her early years memories with her family in a beautifully written narrative. “My early life as I remember growing up.” If you have read this story, you appreciate how challenging life was for a young Dutch girl as she lived through war and then the anticipation of leaving everything you know for the unknown world across the ocean. Mom moved to the US and learned a new language, as well as adapted to a whole new culture, like everything that followed in her live she successfully managed her challenges. She still has friends to this day in Washington where she started her life in the US, like Velma whom she stayed in touch with throughout her life. After finishing high school, like many young women she started a family and traveled with her husband to Wisconsin to start all over again learning yet another American culture and make new friends, she also continued building a family having two more sons, Randy and Rory in Wisconsin all before she obtained her American citizenship. In 1964 mom moved her boys to Arizona, driving a ’59 Rambler singing along with Pet Clark’s song “Downtown” on the radio. In 1965, mom married the love of her life Dick, and made a great home for us and Dicks two children Jay and Kay in Phoenix, after Phoenix, business opportunities took Dick, mom and the family to Indianapolis, where we welcomed Scott, and then moved to Maumee, Ohio where we welcomed Shawn to the clan and planted our flag again in Springfield, Illinois, and Nashotah, WI and finally after auditioning the Midwest claimed Palm Coast, Florida as their favorite place to live. Mom and Dick created a successful business in Palm Coast that allowed them to fully enjoy Florida where she took to boating and spending time with Dick on Mantansas beach. After losing Dick in 2005 mom showed her strength and resilience managing a small business for several years before retiring. In retirement she welcomed her family for visits to sunny Florida where Julie and I remember many morning coffees on her porch overlooking the pond behind her apartment with some pretty fun conversations. I am grateful as I am sure my siblings are as well for the times we spent chatting on the phone or visiting in person knowing that our mom was showing us her grace and strength. The only regret I have for the last months of her life was how dementia stole her voice from us and kept us from listening to her speak. I am incredibly grateful to my brothers, Scott and Shawn and their wonderful wives, Dawn, and Amy for everything they did to help mom through her decline, I know she greatly appreciated everything you did to make her life as full as possible. Ik hou van je mam, rust in vrede I love you mom, rest in peace.
Lorri
February 1, 2025
I told her this many, many times, and will always tell others, she was my MOST favorite aunt! Fun. Kind. Loving. Peace be with you dear Aunt Elly. ❤
Jim & Susan Parvis
January 22, 2025
Our condolences. May the memory of her vivacity lift your spirits on your darker days.
Dave Clair
January 15, 2025
In Love and Respect to you Ms. Emling. You were always nice and kind to talk with over the years I have known you through Scott. God Bless and prayers to your family and friends ❤.
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Nicki Sheyka
January 14, 2025
Praying for the Emling family. Your mom was a beautiful person inside and out and raised an incredible family with your dad. I am so thankful God crossed our paths! God rest her soul and bless each of you during this difficult time.
Ann and Frank Roeber
January 14, 2025
Elly was a strong woman and knew what she wanted from life. She and her husband, Dick, were great friends and you could tell how much they loved each other. Their son, Shawn, is our son-in-law. We know how much she meant to him and he was always doing special things to make her smile. She will be deeply missed, but will be remembered by all who knew her.
She is no longer in pain and she is back with the man she loved so much. We will miss you,Elly, but it was wonderful knowing you for such a long time. Ann and Frank Roeber
Steven and Clarene Morrow
January 13, 2025
So sorry for your loss, our prayers are with this family
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Memorial Events
for Elly Emling
Jan
24
Mass of Christian Burial
11:00 a.m.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
FL
Jan
24
Inurnment
the church columbarium
FL
Funeral services provided by:
Clymer Funeral Home Cremations - Palm Coast39 Old Kings Road N, Palm Coast, FL 32137