Florence Marie “Mary” Emrick, 97, of Iowa City, formerly of Clinton, passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City from complications from Covid-19. Cremation rites have been accorded. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, August 31st at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Clinton, with Fr. Steve Witt officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be held one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Clinton. The Pape Funeral Home, Clinton, Iowa is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.

Mary was born on May 6, 1923 in Otter Creek, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Sarah “Sadie” (Slattery) Nelson. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School and the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Clinton. Mary served as a registered nurse for the US Navy Corps during WWII where she met her husband, Edwin Vandergrift Emrick. As a nurse, she worked in various capacities, retiring as an Industrial Nurse for E.I. DuPont, Clinton, in 1990. Mary was a member of Prince of Peace Parish and its Ladies Auxiliary. She was a volunteer for Prince of Peace Catholic Church, The Canticle, RSVP, and Meals on Wheels. She received the Governor’s Volunteer Award in 1999.

Mary is survived by her four children, Susan Batista of Omaha, NE, Carol (Jeff) Ebinger of Iowa City, James (Julie) Emrick of Belleville, WV, Allen (Kathy) Emrick of Washington, WV; seven grandchildren, Brian (Jody) Valet, Becky Valet, Alex (fiancé Lindsey Daugherty) Ebinger, Tracy (Jesse) Beha, Tanya (Rae) Pascua, Michael Allman and Jill Allman; great granddaughter Alexis Beha; son-in-law Gerald Valet of Kansas City, MO; two sisters, Eunice Nelson of Clinton and Madonna Tingleff of Des Moines; her brother, Joseph (Judy) Nelson of Clinton; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Lynn Valet, grandson Eric Ebinger, nephew Robby Tingleff, niece Cheryl Tingleff, and brother-in-law Robert Tingleff.