Emma Claeys

Emma Claeys (Alles)

October 10, 1911 – December 29, 2004

Emma was born in Walter, Russia on October 10, 1911. Her parents were Jacob and Katherine Alles. Her family worked a sugar beet plantation.

She had four siblings Amelia (Molly), Arnold (Arnie) Freida (Hilda) and Walter. Her family came to the United States when she was 9 months old and they settled in Sebewaing (See-ba-wing) Michigan.

Jacob worked at Buick Motor Division and retired in 1950. Emma grew up in Flint, Michigan where she med Edgar Claeys at a couples dance hall.

Emma worked for Michigan Bell for 7 years and during this time international calling became possible. Ed graduated from Lawrence Tech and after they were married on September 19, 1936 they moved to Detroit. Ed was a member of the Michigan Table Tennis Association. They entertained friends and played table tennis in their basement during the war.

In June 1943, Carolyn Joan was born. One of Carolyn’s fondest childhood memories was that every Christmas her Mom would take her by bus to downtown Detroit’s J.L. Hudson building to see Santa and have lunch on the Mezzanine.

Ed worked at Excelo, Ace Grinding and retired from American Aircraft in 1992. Ed engineered mechanical parts for the Lunar Rover, which was one of the first vehicles that explored the moon.

Carolyn married her high school sweetheart Rod Veres on May 16, 1964. They were blessed with three children; Cherie, Rodney and Renee.

They moved to Livonia in 1968 and were members of the Plymouth Elks and Redford Travelers Club. Their favorite trip was staying at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Emma was a member of the Livonia Towne Club for over 25 years and the Detroit Garden Club for 20 years. They cruised the Bahamas while celebrating Rod and Carolyn’s 25th Wedding Anniversary with them in 1989 and again in 1990. They moved to Novi, Michigan in 1993.

Emma became a Great Grandma 5 times beginning in December 1993 when Nikki Bouchard was born. Followed by Nathan Veres and Sara Dixon in 1999. Fraternal twin boys Luke and Logan Veres were born in 2000.

Emma and Ed were avid ballroom dancers. They took Silva Mind Control classes together. They enjoyed listening to music from the Big Band era and attending musical and dance performances.

Emma loved to cook, work in her garden, and watch her flowers bloom. Her favorite song was called “Yours” and her favorite movie was “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner??” She also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and dry flower arranging.

Carolyn is reminded of her Mom when she see’s pansies, calla lilies, and Old Style Sauce. She also remembers her homemade pea soup.

Cherie remembers spending the day in Grandma’s garden and playing “Piggly- Wiggly” with her brother and sister, Rodney and Renee.

Rodney remembers Grandma’s homemade rum balls, the chocolate pecan Easter eggs she had every Easter and all three of us kids going sledding with Grandma and Grandpa and that Renee hit her head on a tree stump. Wrigley’s spearmint gum will also remind him of his Grandma.

I remember her beautifully wrapped Christmas presents and handmade bows. The smell in her home on Thanksgiving Day, Life cereal, Noxzema and Dove soap will always remind us of her.

Ed left us in August 1999 and is now re-united with Emma in heaven.