Emily Elizabeth Enos

February 14, 1921 (Somerset, Bermuda) – March 31, 2017 (Spring Hill, Florida)

A beautiful reflection of God’s love and peace on Earth, Emily Elizabeth Enos was born on the sunny island of Bermuda on February 14, 1921. She was the third of five children born to Augustus and Helena Philpott. After the misfortune of losing her father at sea when Emily was three years old, her mother remarried Alfred Gibbons. From that union, Emily and her siblings – Lionel, Phyllis, Frances and Albert – gained three additional siblings: Leroy, Delmar and Mary Ann.

“Em was the best big sister,” said Delmar. She was so good to us.” Reflecting on when their beloved mother Helena passed away, Delmar recalled, “Em would come to the house after work and cook dinner for us. We would all run to the door to giggle at her riding down the hill on her Mobylette (moped). We would laugh and laugh, and she would say, ‘I’m here to cook your dinner, and you lot are laughing at me.’”

Emily, affectionately called MaMa, was a loving and dedicated sister, wife and mother. From her union to Goodwin Enos, she gave birth to four children: Marlene, Caroline, Frank and Owen. “She was and always will be the best,” said Owen. Each of Emily’s children agree that they could not have been given a better mother. “She loved everybody in such an extra-special way,” said Frank. While reflecting on her loving ways, Frank recalled how his mother insisted that she put the tip for restaurant servers directly into their hands. “I remember when she ended up right in the kitchen of a restaurant to make sure the waiter got his tip,” Frank said with a laugh.

Not only was Emily an impressive sister, wife, mother (and wait-staff tipper), but she was also an impressive student. During her elementary school years at Cripple Gate School in Bermuda, she became a teacher’s assistant. After leaving school, Emily worked in various positions in the grocery, retail, and restaurant industries. She was also an excellent seamstress, a hobby that occupied any free time she had.

Emily worked for a family in Bermuda who was so impressed with her homemaking skills that they invited her to relocate to New York to work for them. She accepted the invitation. And her relocation to New York eventually led to her pursuing her true passion – nursing. “I loved being a nurse,” Emily used to say. Her longtime desire to become a nurse was Caroline’s motivation for choosing that profession. Whenever MaMa told the story of working with her daughter in nursing at Prospect Hospital, she would proudly say, “And Caroline was my boss back then.”

At the conclusion of Emily’s nursing studies, she received Merit Awards for perfect attendance. “Attendance and punctuality were so important to MaMa,” Marlene stated. “And she definitely drilled the importance of making time into the heads of her four children, as well as cleanliness and organizational skills.”

Because of Emily’s wisdom and sound guidance, many sought her counsel. Marlene, who has lived next door to her mother for all of her adult life – in Bermuda, New York and Florida – said, “MaMa always had the right answers.” Looking across the backyard at her mother’s home, Marlene continued, “I could just walk across the grass to talk to her about anything and return home feeling so much better.” Marlene recalled her cousin Milton Burgess also always feeling encouraged after his conversations with MaMa. Countless others share this sentiment.

MaMa credited her youthful appearance that belied her 96 years to gardening. “I get outside in the sunshine and get my hands down in the dirt,” she would say.

Because of the avid gardener she was, her granddaughter, Penny, recalls writing a magazine article about gardening tips from her grandmother. One tip included pouring used dishwater over plants, because, according to MaMa, the lye in the dish detergent is good for the health of plants.

While MaMa’s physical ability to garden decreased, her desire to be out and about with her family increased. Her granddaughter, Kathy, recalls their many Saturday outings, including getting manicures and pedicures. However, when MaMa was unable to travel long distances with her family, her granddaughter, Karen, willingly stayed with her to assist with her care. A funny memory that MaMa has left her family with is that while eager to be on the go, she was just as eager to return home before dark. She loved to attend to her evening routine of “closing up the house.” And when she wanted to begin her routine at about 3:00 p.m. one day, Caroline exclaimed, “But, MaMa, it’s daylight saving time.”

Family and friends who entered MaMa’s home were sure to be offered a meal. “You hungry? You want something to eat?” she would ask. Even when she reached the stage of being unable to prepare meals, she was still asking her guests, “You want something to eat?” Back in Bermuda, MaMa prepared meals for sailors who traveled to the island. Her children also remember her opening up their home to some young ladies who were facing challenges and needed a place to stay. After relocating to the United States, family and friends knew that they always had a place to stay when traveling. MaMa’s relative and close friend, Lois Baker, established an over-40-year tradition of visiting MaMa, annually, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

As close to a Proverbs 31 woman as one gets, Emily was, undoubtedly, a woman of undeniable grace, beauty, compassion and strength. To have known her was to instantly adore and love her. She exuded such a genuine love and appreciation for others and for life, and she was grateful for each and every day of her 96 years.

A week before MaMa passed at Spring Hill Health & Rehabilitation Center, she enjoyed a beautiful day outdoors, soaking up fresh air and sunshine for many hours, while surrounded by her family. Then, in her sleep during the early hours of the morning on March 31, 2017, MaMa peacefully moved on to the arms of her loving Savior. From an angel on Earth to an angel in Heaven, Emily Elizabeth Enos will forever be cherished by her adoring family and friends. May we all help the world to be a brighter place by keeping her legacy of love, hope and peace alive.

Left to carry on Emily’s legacy of love are her children: Marlene Riley (George), Caroline Burgess (Trevor), Frank Enos (Sharon) and Owen Enos; grandchildren: Karen Wedemier, Kathy Tweed, Penny Powell (Collin), Jude Burgess (Sabrina), Takiyah Simpson (Kevin), Tonya Gibson (Dale), Jason Enos and Malika Battersbee; 15 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; sisters: Francis (Fannie) Hall and Delmar Gibbons Smith; sisters-in-law: Alice Philpott, Ruth Philpott and Henrietta Gibbons; numerous nieces and nephews; devoted relative and friend, Lois Baker; longtime friend and neighbor, Aletha Clarke; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Emily was pre-deceased by her husband Goodwin Ross Enos; siblings: Lionel and Albert Philpott, Leroy Gibbons, Phyllis (Pibby) Outerbridge and Mary Ann Marshall; grandson, Micah Battersbee; and son-in-law, Ainsworth Burgess.

“Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.” St. Francis de Sales