Reminiscing with a television reporter about seeing the Empire State Building being constructed, seeing the Titanic and being on television were some of the highlights of the day for Emma Stark on the occasion of her 108th birthday on New Year's Day 2001. Stark, a resident of Lakeside Beikirch Care Center, was born January 1, 1893 to Thomas and Anna Headland. She had two brothers and lived in the Bronx for 65 years. When Emma's brothers contracted tuberculosis she left school, at age 11, to help her mother care for them. Her brothers, Alvin and Ray, died at the ages of 11 and 21. She married Frank Stark January 1, 1916 and they had two daughters. He predeceased her in April 1978. After living with her grandson and his wife, Frank and Joan Schrimp, Emma moved into the nursing home. Emma has three grandsons, nine great-grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren, and one great-great-great grandchild. |
