Muriel Brassler Emery

Muriel Brassler Emery, 94, a longtime resident of the Poconos, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 8, at Grace Park, where she had resided for the past three years. She was the wife of Richard W. Emery, who preceded her in death in 1989.

Born Aug. 16, 1915, in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Otto and Olga (Kroeger) Brassler, and sister of the late Norman Brassler. She grew up in Englewood, N.J., and graduated from the Dwight—Englewood School. Continuing her education, she studied Theater Arts at Sarah Lawrence College as a member of the class of 1936. Highlights of her acting career included numerous summer stock theater performances, and most notably, appearances in the 1930s Broadway productions "Tapestry in Gray" and "Julius Caesar." She is depicted in the book and upcoming film, "Me and Orson Welles," for her role in "Julius Caesar," in which she starred opposite Orson Welles as Portia, from 1937 to 1938.

In September 1941, she married Richard W. Emery, with whom she celebrated 48 years of marriage and raised two children, Dr. David R. Emery (wife Dr. Linda G. Emery) of West Lafayette, Ind., and Margaret A. (Emery) Swingle (husband Kenneth E. Swingle III) of Blooming Grove.

After she was married, Muriel graduated from the Columbia University School of Physical Therapy in 1946, and worked as a physical therapist treating victims of the polio epidemics. She raised her family in East Norwich, Long Island, N.Y., and delighted in entertaining faculty members and college guests when her husband served as the Dean of Queens College.

Muriel and her husband retired to Hemlock Farms, near Hawley, where she took pleasure in nature and gardening, was active with her church and the local library, and served as an emergency radio dispatcher for the volunteer fire department. Her six grandchildren, Elizabeth J. Emery of W. Lafayette, Ind., Rebecca S. Emery of New York, N.Y., Victoria (Emery) Marx (husband Jeffrey), of Chicago, Ill., Ross M. Emery of W. Lafayette, Ind., Ruth Anne Swingle and Kenneth E. Swingle IV, both of Blooming Grove, have fond childhood memories of playing around the crabapple tree with her in the backyard.

Muriel was an avid reader, an aspiring author and poet, loved classical music and opera, and had a particular interest in family history. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Stroudsburg, and maintained a wide circle of friends. She is remembered as a beloved wife; devoted mother; loving grandmother, sister, and aunt; and dear friend.

Also surviving are a nephew, Morgan Brassler of Skytop, and a niece, Carolyn (Brassler) Osmun of Savannah, Ga.

Viewing and visitation with the family will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, at Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 W. Harford St., Milford, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Milford Cemetery. A memorial service will also be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, Stroudsburg.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, 1053 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley, PA 18428, www.hemlockfirerescue.com; or the First Presbyterian Church, 579 Main St., Stroudsburg, PA 18360, www.fpcstroudsburg.org.

Stroyan Funeral Home

405 W. Harford St., Milford