Obituary for
Emma Jane Kern Ira
Emma Jane Kern Ira, age 78, of Bloomington, passed away Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, at Garden Villa. She was born in Avoca in Lawrence County on Aug. 11, 1934, to Charles and Mary Birdie Taylor Kern. Emma spent her teen years working in the family home, preparing meals, doing housework and caring for her siblings after the illness of her mother. Before marriage, Emma worked at Sarkes Tarzian. Before retirement, she worked at Hills Department Store, Dollar Tree, and Sears Department Store. Emma loved tending to her flowers and making delicious meals. She loved going on long walks. But most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a loving mother, grandmother, daughter and sister. Emma married Harold Lee Ira in October 1954, and devoted her time to raising her son, three daughters and supporting the interests of her six grandsons, and great grandson. Emma leaves behind her daughters, Melissa Ira, of Bloomington, Amy Ira and her partner Barbara Ralls of Bloomington, and Carla Cowden (Mark) of Ellettsville, and a son, Rodney Ira (Joy), of Bloomington; six grandsons, Matthew Ira (Echo) of Tulsa, Okla., Shane Ira (Rachel) of Bloomington, Jeffery Cowden of San Diego, Calif., Jason Cowden of Ellettsville, Michael Cowden of Washington, D.C., and Adam Ira, of Indianapolis, and a great-grandson, Anthony Joseph (A.J.) Ira of Bloomington. She is also survived by sisters, Jean Sickman of Stendal, Rosie Bihler of Alameda, Calif., and a brother, Kenny Kern of Bedford, and many nieces and nephews. Emma was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, David and Paul Kern; sisters, Ruby Burns, Eula Gardner and Naomi "Nemie" Stone, and her former husband, Harold, in 1998. Her beloved dog, Snickers, passed away on Dec. 26. Funeral services for Emma will be conducted Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, at 11:00a.m. at the The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E. Third St., Bloomington. Entombment will follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens. Visitation will be on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, from 4 to 8p.m. at The Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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