Evelyn Marie Kemner 82, passed away at her home in Rogersville, Alabama on Thursday morning, September 3, 2020 after a long struggle with Osteoarthritis. She was in hospice care.
Evelyn was born December 4, 1937, in the Bronx, New York, to Evelyn Marie (Kanenbley) Marek and William Augustus Marek. Evelyn graduated high school in 1955 from The Villa Maria Academy in the Bronx NY just down the road from her home. She went to college at The Lenox Hill Hospital School of Nursing in NYC and completed the program to become a Registered Nurse in 1958. She made nursing her lifelong career and always worked in family planning. Evie, and husband Arnie, moved from the Bronx to New Jersey in 1962 with their young family. While working full time, and raising 6 children, Evelyn studied to become an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner and received her degree when the profession was newly accredited. As a Nurse Practitioner she focused on reproductive endocrinology. She retired in 1998 and moved to Alabama in 2000.
Affectionately referred to as “Ma” by her 6 children, Ma could multitask to the highest degree, often cooking supper, helping with studies, studying her own schoolwork, tending to pets, and transporting her children from sports practices and events at different locations, and at all hours. She was proud to have spent time with each of her eight grandchildren during their formative years, and had a strong affection for them all. Evelyn had a creative side and was handy with a glue gun, a sewing machine, fabric, and paint. She could make “something out of nothing” often recycling scraps into something pretty and useful. She cooked a lot of one-pot meals and was an expert with leftovers. She had a green thumb, and nurtured many plants in her home and outdoors. Evelyn was a good swimmer and taught many children to swim. She enjoyed watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, “game shows that make you think.” Ma was delighted to have all of her children together, at her home, for Christmas 2019.
Evelyn was preceded in death by: her infant son, Peter, in 1959; her 14-year-old son, Billy, in 1979, (Billy was born handicapped, due to the Rubella pandemic in 1964); Arnold, her husband of 18 years; her parents, Evelyn and William Marek; and her sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Don Stewart.
Evelyn is survived by: five of her children, Arnold Kemner III (Carol), Kevin Kemner, Chris Kemner (Ann), Eve Belue (Hegan), and Joseph Kemner (Kim); 8 Grandchildren, Michael, Kelly, Eileen, Christopher, Timothy, Emma, Arlo, and Charlie; nieces, nephews, and their children.
Evelyn requested cremation, stating that she “didn’t need to take up space on earth after death”.
The family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice and their caring staff, the Rogersville Rescue Squad, and the many friends who helped Evelyn over the years.
With the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, no formal services will be held at this time. A family gathering, and memorial, to celebrate Evelyn’s life will be held at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to the Rogersville Rescue Squad or Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
