Emma Jennings Spalding November 12, 1938—April 26, 2020
Emma was born Emma Snow Jennings, and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She graduated from New Bedford High and then from U. Mass Amherst with a Bachelor’s in Art. Later, she got her Masters from Southeastern Mass. University in graphic design.
While an undergraduate, she met Edward Barker Spalding. They were married in 1959 and raised three daughters, Kirsten Snow Spalding, Heather Spalding Swofford, Miriam Spalding McNabb.
Emma worked in graphic design for MITRE Corp. and she taught Art in the elementary grades in New Bedford, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven.
Family and friends were the center of Emma’s life. Known as “Snowie” in high school and “Emma” in college, she and Ed valued and maintained deep and lifelong friendships withhigh school and college friends. She developed lasting friendships with neighbors in New Bedford, Dartmouth, Reston, VA and North Attleboro, exchanging cards, letters, and phone calls regularly. She kept up connections with her extended familyas the eldest of 30 cousins. Having lost her own parents in her thirties, she cared for several elderly relatives with the attention of a daughter.
A consummate cook, gardener, and interior designer, Emma was truly a “homemaker” who knew that providing the place for loving family was what was most important. Over the course of their 60-year marriage, Emma and Ed knew “for better or for worse” and found strength and happiness in the family life they created together. As their daughters grew up and had their own children, Emma and Ed became doting grandparents who celebrated every accomplishment, relished every milestone, and fretted over every bump in the road.
Emma is survived by her husband, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren, Isaac Woodfin Swofford, Lydia Raisa Swofford, Averil Spalding Lough, Yates Hennen Lough, Ian James McNabb and Helene Snow McNabb.
There will be a virtual memorial service onFacebook livestream on Sunday May 24th at 4 p.m. Eastern Time for Emma and others who have died since the quarantine. Emma’s daughter Kirsten will preside and preach at the service.
There will be a private graveside service and an in-person celebration of Emma’s life when the quarantine is lifted.
Donations in Emma’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.