Emma D Rios

Our beloved mother Emma Rios entered into God’s kingdom on Thursday January 16, 2025, at the age of 85.

Emma was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on June 26, 1939, to José and Inez Santiago, and moved to Brooklyn, NY after her father’s passing. She graduated from Manual Training High School where she was voted “Most Likely to Succeed”. While attending Bible school as a teenager, she met the love of her life, René. They were married on July 2, 1960. Emma attended Brooklyn College and worked as a bank teller until she left to start a family. Emma and René moved to Rockland County to raise their five children in 1977. As her children grew, she went back to work in retail selling furniture, which she enjoyed and went on to be the top seller of the year.

Her greatest joy, however, remained her faith and her family. She was a devoted wife and mother as well as an active member in her community. She was a member of Faith Assembly of God Church in Chestnut Ridge and her love of Christ and dedication to service was evident through her volunteer work and leadership in the food ministry and in multiple children’s ministry programs. Throughout her entire life she held an unwavering faith in God which she shared with those who surrounded her.

Emma is survived by her five children Erik, Alexander (Patricia), Pamela Merola (Stephen), Jennifer (Gordon) and Aimee and her five grandchildren Ethan, Sophie, Lilya and Avery Merola and Henry Stott, to whom she will always be remembered as their much-loved Mima.

Emma joins her beloved husband of 55 years René, her parents José and Inez and her siblings José “Jesse” and Nydia “Cuca” in heaven.

Visitation will take place at Wyman Fisher Funeral Home, 100 Franklin Avenue in Pearl River, NY on Tuesday January 21, 2025, from 3-5PM and from 7-9PM.

Funeral Services will take place at Faith Assembly of God Church, 921 Chestnut Ridge Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY on Wednesday January 22, 2025, at 10:30AM. Burial at Rockland Cemetery will follow.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4.

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