Olivia Bobe “Liv” Emmanuel

September 10, 2022

Our much-loved wife, mother and grandmother, Olivia Bobe “Liv” Emmanuel, died peacefully at home at the age of 101 on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. She was born December 8, 1920, in Denver, CO, the child of Pensacola natives, and grew up in Pensacola. She was loved deeply by her husband, Patrick Emmanuel, her seven children and twelve grandchildren. We have many happy memories of chilly holiday nights with a bushel of raw oysters in the yard followed by her famous chicken and oyster gumbo. Mom loved to entertain, frequently hosting dinner and cocktail parties, and the house was often filled with friends and great food. She loved decorating the house for holidays and was always so delighted to see the tree trimmed and lit for Christmas. Thanksgiving dinners were epic at “2020” or Innerarity, with many favorite family dishes covering every counter available.

We have many happy memories of a week spent every summer at “the cabin” at Innerarity with Mom and our maternal grandmother, Gram. There were many long sunny days crabbing, swimming, canoeing, and having an afternoon quiet hour reading library books. Mom loved the water and often took us all to Pensacola Beach for swimming, surfing, and early evening picnics. We all enjoy the beach and the water thanks to Mom. She will be greatly missed as the matriarch of our family.

She was an ardent supporter of the arts and was actively involved throughout her life with many arts-related organizations, including the Pensacola Symphony Guild and the Pensacola Museum of Art; she was a member of Nomads. She adored fashion and looked forward to dressing up for Mardi Gras and Fiesta balls while wearing Chanel No.5. She had wishes when young for a career in interior decorating and appreciated trips with her daughters to Atlanta to shop the fabric stores on the Westside. She appreciated travel, welcomed forays to New York or Chicago, and enjoyed many European trips with Patrick, returning home with lots of photos and stories of amazing sites and memorable meals. She was an avid reader and could often be seen at home side by side with Patrick reading novels, several daily papers, and multiple fashion and home décor magazines. She loved to point out gorgeous styles and designs. She and Patrick shared with all their children the love of books and reading, and she taught us the joy of a weekly trip to the library in the summer to load up on summer reading. This appreciation for reading and the library is now being passed down to great-grandchildren. She was always a gracious lady and a devout Catholic.

She is preceded in death by her daughters, Suzanne and Mary Jo Emmanuel Hanover; her parents, Ernest Henry (Jim) Bobe and Mattie O’Connell Bobe; as well as her siblings, Hortense, Florence, Annie Mae, and Ernest.

She is survived by her devoted husband of seventy-four years, Patrick; two daughters, Deborah Emmanuel and Barbara Emmanuel (Bernie Griner); four sons, Rick Emmanuel (Christy), Robert Emmanuel (Karen), Stephen Emmanuel (Susan), and John Emmanuel (Patty); son-in-law, Dennis Hanover; twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank Mary Halstead and her team of warm, caring, and attentive caregivers.

A heartfelt thank you to nurse Laurabeth and nurse practitioner Katie for excellent care, expertise, and attention provided to our mother and warmth and advice provided to our family in Mom’s final years.

Funeral Mass will be held 2:00pm Friday, September 16, 2022, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, with Msgr. Michael Reed, celebrant.

Comments

Comments are closed.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries