Emma Stutzman, 79, formerly of Orrville, Ohio, died Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at her home in Harrisonburg, VA, after a six-month journey with pancreatic cancer.

She was born Emma Carolyn Smucker on April 24, 1944, in Wooster, Ohio, to John Mervin and Icie May (Wenger) Smucker. After graduating from the inaugural class of Central Christian High School in Kidron, Ohio in 1962, she attended Hesston College, Kansas for one year, then graduated from The University of Kansas Practical Nursing School in 1964. She later obtained her BS in Social Work from The University of Akron in 2002. Most of her career was spent as a geriatric nurse in Ohio.

Emma was married to Ervin Stutzman, the father of her children, from 1964-1997. She married Carl W. Berndt Jr. on October 3, 2005; he died October 12, 2012. She married Ronald Piper on June 29, 2019.

After retirement, Emma was a volunteer for Hospice and Palliative Care of Wayne County, Ohio. She spent several summers in Harlan, Kentucky with SWAP (Sharing with Appalachian People). She loved both thrifting and working at MCC Connections in Ohio and Gift & Thrift in Harrisonburg. She was a member of Zion Mennonite Church and an active participant in Mennonite Women, along with sewing groups at Lindale Mennonite and Harrisonburg Mennonite.

Emma was known for her laughter and her quirky sense of humor. She loved people and was always sending cards or calling to check on friends. She enjoyed crocheting and fine-stitch quilting, and many families were blessed with her afghans and baby blankets. She could also be counted on to purchase items from thrift stores that no one else would ever buy and turn them into gifts (not always appreciated) for her children and grandchildren. One never knew what to expect when opening a present from Grandma Emma!

Emma is survived by her husband Ronald; daughter Sharon Stutzman (Orrville, OH), son Tim (Laura) Stutzman of Harrisonburg; grandchildren Lydia (Riley) Hall, Abe (Rachel) Hartzler, Magdalena Hartzler, Lleyton Stutzman and Langdon Stutzman; great-grandchildren Gideon and Emma Hall and Sophia Hartzler; Ron’s children Jennifer Piper, Michael (Sarah) Piper and grandchildren Jonathan and Kate Piper; brothers Stanley (Marlene) Smucker and Ralph (Lila) Smucker and sisters-in-law Donna Smucker and Geneva Smucker. She was predeceased by brothers John R. Smucker and David H. Smucker, son-in-law Michael D. Hartzler, and granddaughter Caroline Hartzler.