Emma Widjaja

Emma Widjaja was born in Padang, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia on August 20, 1932, to Tjipta Widjaja (Whie Tjip Liang) and Enny Tjandra (Tjia Gan Ie Nio). She came to Jakarta as a refugee, at a very young age, due to an ethnic persecution. She graduated from Santa Ursula in Jakarta, Indonesia and continued on to receive a technical education. Emma was married to Hendra Sutiono.

Our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Emma Widjaja was primarily a homemaker for a big family, where all of her four children, her sister and her parents, all live in one loving home. A home full of laughter, discussions and sometimes arguing. But it is a home full of love, where the entire family, all sit at the dinner table every evening enjoying her delicious cooking while each of the family member would tell their stories. You could smell the aroma of her cooking throughout the day. And if she was not cooking, you could hear the sewing machine running when she made her own dresses and our clothes. She picked up her children from school and took them to music lessons, swimming lessons and other activities. It was more than a full time job for her and she never retired. Until her old age, even before she was admitted to the hospital last October, she still cooked for her children.

She was an exceptional wife and mother, a central figure in the lives of her children and all who lived around her. She ensured all her children received the best education. She provided counsel to her children, their spouses and grandchildren through happy and difficult times. She enjoyed listening to classical music, watching Jeopardy, the running water in the creek and the sound of nature. She played violin and piano herself and joined the Radio Republic of Indonesia (RRI) Orchestra. What she enjoyed most is the sound of the children and grandchildren practicing music.

Emma Widjaja was baptized Catholic in her thirties. She took Saint Jeanette as her baptism name. Ever since, she deeply loves her Catholic faith. She prayed her Rosary daily, made yearly pilgrimage to a place honored for Mother Mary in central Java (Sendang Sono). Also she made pilgrimage several times to Lourdes. She always prayed for the family and friends who asked her to pray for them. She assisted her husband in helping the Arch Diocese of Jakarta for the expansion of the Diocese. She often provided meals for the priests or nuns. For ten years, she faithfully and lovingly took care of her beloved husband, who had a brain injury due to a fall until he passed away on November 1, 2013.

Guests were always welcome to stay at her home and she made sure everyone slept well and well fed with her delicious cooking. She always dressed nicely to give respect to people she meets and especially for church. She expected the best of others and gave the best of herself.

Emma is preceded in death by her loving husband Hendra Sutiono, her sister Henny Widjaja and her grandson Davin Sutiono.

Emma is survived by her children Lanny Sutiono, Rudy Sutiono, Andre Sutiono and Raymond Sutiono, and her grandchildren, Hansel, Devina, Raphael, Abigail, Aurelia, Aveline, and Anamarie, and other family and friends.

Visitation will be held at on Thursday, January 5, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Calvary Hill Main Mausoleum North Chapel, 3235 Lombardy Ln, Dallas, Texas 75220. Rosary will follow after visitation at 4:00 pm.

Requiem Mass will be said on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 5:00 pm at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1705 E. Peters Colony Rd, Carrollton, Texas 75007.

Committal will follow at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks in Pflugerville, Texas on January 7, 2023 at 3:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lanny Sutiono (zelle 512-589-8808) and will be donated to Indriasana Catholic School in Surabaya, Jawa Timur, Indonesia. Indriasana Catholic School is a Catholic Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle school located on Jalan Petemon Kali 114, Surabaya, Indonesia. The school serves low income families in the area who want their children to have Catholic education. Although the tuition is very affordable, almost 30% of their 150 students are on scholarships. Indriasana Catholic School has been partnering with some families from the Indonesian Catholic Community DFW, including the Sutionos, in providing scholarships for their students and teachers. The school is always in dire need of financial assistance to meet the basic educational needs of their students.

The family of Emma Widjaja (Sutiono family) wishes to thank Indonesian Catholic Community of Austin, Indonesian Catholic Community of Dallas – Ft Worth, St Catherine of Siena in Carrollton, Texas and St Theresa Catholic Church in Austin, Texas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.calvaryhilldallas.com for the Widjaja Sutiono family.