Emma Hayot, 101, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 with family by her side. Emma always said when she passed away, all that needed to be said was, “Emma’s dead, nuff said”. We plan to provide a bit more information.
She was born in Namur in Southern Door on October 19, 1922 to Henry and Virginia Mallien. Following high school graduation from Brussels High School, Emma married Louis Rankin in 1941. They were blessed with two girls, Charlotte, and Charlene. After Louis passing in 1967, she married Auguste Hayot in 1976. They met when she was a translator (Walloon to English) for a group that traveled to the United States from Belgium.
She was known for her typing skills that gave her the nick name, “flying fingers”. This skill earned her a state typing championship. Emma worked for the Door County Advocate as a bookkeeper and proofreader for 16 years. A career change would take her to the Bank of Sturgeon Bay where she worked as a teller. Emma retired as a secretary for Door County Social Services.
She was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Sturgeon Bay, the Peninsula Belgian American Club, and enjoyed performing in school plays. In more recent years Emma and Joe played over 6,500 games of Kings Corners with Emma emerging as the winner by 11 games! All her family looked forward to our annual birthday phone call where she played “Happy Birthday” on her harmonica.
Emma will be missed by her daughter, Charlotte Lenius; seven grandchildren, David (Carol) Lenius, Kathy (Joe) Krebsbach, Kris (John) Miller, Dan (Jennifer) Lenius, Nicki (Brandon) Powell, Todd (Tonya) Corcoran, Wendy Corcoran; 15 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and Riley, her special dog buddy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters; daughter and son-in-law, Charlene (Charlie) Corcoran; son-in-law, Dale Lenius; and grandchild.
Emma was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandma, great-grandma, and great-great-grandma who will be missed by all.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be prayed at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 17, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay with Fr. Matthew Rappl as celebrant. She will be laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery in the Town of Sevastopol.
Friends may call at the church on Friday, November 17, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:40 a.m.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed in her name for the Belgian Heritage Center (P.O. Box 173, Brussels, WI 54204; www.belgianheritagecenter.org).
Arrangements have been entrusted with Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Emma may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.
