Emma Mary Earley Aaroe passed away on June 29, 2021, at the age of 100. Born prematurely on Dec 27, 1920, weighing only 3 lbs., she survived because her grandmother made a crude incubator out of a wash basket, a blanket and a hot water bottle. Emma was the daughter of Emma Jane Shauger Earley and Edwin Francis Earley of Paterson, NJ. She lived a few years with her growing family in Paterson and Haledon. In 1931 they moved to Woodbridge where Emma lived until moving to Whispering Knoll in Edison in 2018.

Emma attended Woodbridge public schools, graduating from the secretarial program of Woodbridge High School  (now Woodbridge Middle School) in 1938. Along the way, she made life-long friends, especially the "Hill Gang:" Jean Hooban Leahy, Ruth Cahill Tooker, and Audrey Grady. The 'boys' were never far behind. One of those boys became very special: Don Aaroe who lived on Linden Ave.

After waiting for Don to return home from the US Navy after having served 4 years in the South Pacific during WWII, they were married on October 27, 1945. Don built the house on Elmwood Ave he had promised her, and they raised their family and lived happily together until Don's death in 2009.

Emma was a storyteller, an artist, a poet, a tap dancer, and a bringer of joy. She was always ready to "put on a show," and drag out all manner of hats and costumes. Primarily a homemaker until the children were on their own, Emma had worked for Prudential insurance in Newark and the Perth Amboy Evening News between 1936 and 1948. Later, Emma worked for the Woodbridge Board of Education as a teacher's aide and clerk, retiring in 1985. Even before retirement, Emma was known around town as the "lady who walks."  A 3-mile walk every day was instrumental in keeping her younger than her years. Along those walks, Em noticed many things that need Township attention, and she didn't hesitate to write letters to the mayor and other officials, pointing out needed snow clearance on sidewalks, trash in her beloved parks, and the tragedy of the loss of dozens of trees along Heard's Brook.

A Presbyterian Woman through and through, church was a large part of Emma's life. She began her activity there at age 11, upon moving to Woodbridge. Her new neighbor friend, May Reid (Randolph), asked Emma to come with her to Sunday School. Emma's connection to First Presbyterian Church, "The Old White Church," had begun. She was confirmed and married there, and her children baptized there; she was active in ladies' organizations such as Ladies Aid and United Presbyterian Women (now PW); she served on just about every committee there was, sang in the choir, took part in every kind of entertainment, and gave the "Children's Chat" during Sunday worship for decades. Emma was one of the first two women to become an Ordained Elder in the 1950s, serving several terms over the years, and she also served as a Deacon. Along with Don, she taught Adult Sunday School for decades. Emma is the oldest, and longest-term member of the church.

One exceptional facet of Em's life at FPCW was her love of and life-long learning about the historic church yard.  For many years between ages 50 and 80, Emma dressed in period costume and led tours and talks through the cemetery, pointing out historical headstones and telling stories of the people buried there.  For this reason, any contributions made in Emma's name to the church will be dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the cemetery.

Another large part of Emma's family life was Springwood Swim Club in Colonia. Em and Don were charter members, with Don and close friends providing the design, construction, and operational expertise. "The Pool" opened in 1954 and is still in operation. The family spent thousands of hours swimming, playing, barbecuing, and partying there. Emma is the longest time, and oldest, member at Springwood. When not at Springwood, the family enjoyed many summer vacations in Sandwich, Massachusetts (Cape Cod), and at rental homes on Long Beach Island.  Those locations were often filled with aunts, uncles, cousins, boyfriends and girlfriends, friends of friends, and always filled with laughter and good food.

Emma was the oldest of four surviving children, and those three siblings predeceased her: Dorothy Mae Earley Lorch (1924-2015, married James R Lorch) of Pukekoe, NZ; Edwin Francis Earley Jr. (1927-2008) of Eastport, ME; and Daniel Herbert Earley (1929-2017, married Helen Chapman) of Eastport, ME. They all grew to adulthood at their home on Grenville St., Woodbridge.

Besides her parents and siblings, Emma was also predeceased by her loving husband, Don Aaroe; her still-born boy, Edwin Andrew, her son-in-law, Dave Swanson, and her dearest life-long friend, Jean Leahy.

Emma is survived by her children, Amy Jean of Scotch Plains, NJ, and Chris and wife Jeanne of Greensboro NC; grandchildren Mary Emma Aaroe and partner Chris 'Kiff' Magor, and Kirsten Marie Beck of NYC; great-grandson Kristopher Matthew Beck and Great-great-grandson, Phoenix Orion Gibson-Beck of Marshall and Barnardsville, NC.

Emma is also grieved by her sister-in-law, Helen Earley, 11 nieces and nephews, and their children and grandchildren who are scattered across the globe from NJ, ME, VA, KY, and NC, to Australia and New Zealand. The Wadsworths, the Earleys, the Becks, the Lorches and many friends and relations will also dearly miss her cheerful smile and her stories.

"How can you sing mournfully when I have left a wonderful life?

There never was a day when I was not loved and loved in return."