Emma Damin

Emma Louise (Gilliland) Damin, 97, passed away Monday, January 26, 2026, at Brickyard Healthcare in Tell City.

She was born July 12, 1928, in Manteno, Illinois, the daughter of the late Eugene and Lena (Richards) Gilliland. She moved to Perry County as a young girl and remained there for most of her life.

Emma's romance with her husband, Earl, blossomed during WWII through their letters and soon after the end of the war they were married. Emma worked at General Electric for two years before pursuing her dream of homemaker and mother to her six children. When her own children were older, she provided daycare for several children in her home, all of whom were treated like part of the family. Her caregiver skills were later utilized while she worked as a Nursing Assistant at Lincoln Hills Care Center. She was often praised for her hard work and tender care of her patients and also earned Employee of the Month.

At their St. Mark's home, she worked with Earl to grow a large garden. Her favorites were the strawberries and other fruits that allowed her to make sweet treats for her family. She loved to watch the wildlife that would visit the pond and property.

She and Earl lived in Plant City, Florida from 1990 to 1998, but moved back to Tell City to be near family. They also remodeled a cabin, raised cattle, and stocked a pond with catfish on a property they owned for a time near Troy.

Emma's favorite charities were her Catholic churches (St. Michael, St. Mark and St. Paul in Perry County, and St. Clement in Plant City, FL), the Silesian Missions, the Franciscan Missions, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the Sacred Heart League, and the Little Flower Missions. Before having their own family, she and Earl drove children to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment.

Emma is survived by her six children, David (Joyce) Damin, Bob (Sarajane) Damin, Mark (Rose) Damin, Phillip (Tammy) Damin, Mike (Faith) Damin, and Tanya (Dan) Walzer; a sister, Ruth Schroeder and brother, Jerome Gilliland; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of over 70 years, Earl; sisters, Martha Scott, Myrle Rollins, Helen Kirchner, and Columbine Damin; and brothers, Donald (infant), Bill, George and Orvan Gilliland.

A Mass to celebrate Emma's life will be held at 11AM Saturday, March 7, 2026, at St. Paul Catholic Church.

There will be no visitation prior. Burial will follow in St. Augustine Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 814 Jefferson Street, Tell City, IN 47586.

Condolences may be left at zoercher-gillickfuneralhome.com