Emma Jean Belli

Emma Jean Belli age 89 passed away on January 4, 2024 after facing a long illness with great courage. Emma was born to Fred and Angeline Julia (Panizzi) Marco on June 19, 1934 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania where she joyfully embraced hard work on the family dairy farm. She left the county for the first time on a date with her husband-to-be Anthony, married, and gained a lively large family of in-laws. She supported her husband’s business ventures with dedication living in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, and Ohio.
Emma was a vivacious and kind wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, always curious, fascinated by nature and eager to share new experiences. She raised her children to value education and to live bravely with open minds. She mentored employees as friends when she worked at Huron IGA and delighted in new neighbors at Providence Independent Living in Sandusky. She encouraged her children to follow their passion then joined them and her treasured grandsons in travel including Florida, Hawaii, Alaska, Texas, and points between. Whether collecting bugs, touring museums, scouting for shells, as a spectator of hockey, dog mushing, or opera all new adventures were embraced. Emma enjoyed flying with the many pilots in the family. She was a good sport boating with the many boaters in the family. She declared camping “not that bad at all.” She never lost her love of accomplishing a job well done and her children’s gardens were all the better as a result. All ice cream was appreciated. All jigsaw puzzles solved. The sound of her laughter will be missed beyond words.
Emma is survived by her children Anthony Gene Belli, Julia Lynn Belli (James Alan Pfeiffer), Christopher John Belli (Marney), and grandsons Maxwell and Curtis Belli, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and lifelong friend Vera Baum. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Fred Marco, Jr and husband Anthony P. Belli.
A private burial was held at Meadow Green Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Freck Funeral Chapel.