Emma Jane Ledbetter D'Ostilio

Emma Jane D’Ostilio, of Hickory, NC, passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Trinity Ridge in Hickory, NC. Born May 18, 1921 in McDowell County, she was the daughter of the late James Lafayette and Rosa Jeanette Ledbetter.

Emma Jane was a civil service worker in the Armament Division at Patterson Field, Ohio during WWII. She played basketball with the Ohio Association AAU team from 1943-1945. In 1944, she met and married the love of her life, the late Dominick O. D’Ostilio. They lived in Ohio, Colorado and New York prior to settling down in Monroe, CT, where they raised a family for 30 years. While in CT she was an active member of Stepney Baptist Church and a Kindergarten and Pre-school teacher. She gave years of volunteer service to Meals on Wheels, the Council on Aging, American Veterans and CCM. She loved sports, gardening, was a gifted quilter and an enthusiastic bird watcher. She was a loyal, dedicated, loving wife, mother of three children and Nana to six grandchildren; whose passion for life, courageous spirit and leadership was admired by everyone that met her.

Emma Jane is survived by her sister, Virginia Dare McClure of Johnson City, TN; children, John Ray D’Ostilio and wife Charlotte of Monroe, CT, David Martin D’Ostilio and wife Virginia Steinway of Morris, CT and Jane Lea D’Ostilio Gullett and husband Steven of Hickory, NC; grandchildren, Rosa Jeanette D’Ostilio of Denver, CO, David Joseph D’Ostilio and wife Stephanie of Brooklyn, NY, Sarah Steinway- D’Ostilio of Oakland, CA, Rachael Steinway-D’Ostilio of Morris, CT, Nicholas Leo Gullett and wife Valerie of Clemmons, NC and Vincent Parker Gullett of Hickory, NC.

A Memorial Service honoring and celebrating Emma Jane’s life will be officiated by Chaplain Kim Dowell at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2015 in the chapel of Drum Funeral Home in Hickory, NC.

Receiving of family and friends is welcomed from 11:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.