Emmerence Ruth (Schmidt) Caverly, beloved wife of Hugh F. Caverly, passed away on September 6, 2019, at home surrounded by her adoring family.

“Em” or “Emmy,” as she was known to family and friends, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 5, 1927, the fifth of eight children born to Philip and Angela (Bauer) Schmidt.

On January 19, 1952, Em began her 67-year marriage to Hugh, her high school sweetheart.  They settled in Southfield, MI, raising a family of seven children there, before moving to Farmington Hills in 1987.  Although a woman of many talents and a wide variety of interests, Emmy’s primary focus was always family.  She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother.

Emmy was a gifted seamstress, sewing beautiful outfits for herself and her family, including several wedding dresses. In later life, she enjoyed quilting, needle working and tatting. At age 85, Emmy suffered a debilitating stroke that required significant rehabilitation.  When she returned home, she found herself unable to remember how to sew.  With characteristic determination, Emmy took out the instruction manual for each of her many machines for sewing and re-taught herself how to use them.  She later presented hand-sewn quilts as Christmas gifts for each of her 19 grandchildren, no two quilts alike. 

Her family will attest that Emmy was an excellent cook.  She is especially remembered for her skills as a baker, making 8 loaves of bread each week when her family was young, countless coffee cakes on the weekends, seasonal pies of all kinds, and enchantingly decorated cakes for birthdays and other celebrations, even a many-tiered wedding cake.  Every year she baked the most delicious Christmas cookies, filling endless jars, tins and boxes for family and friends.

Emmy enjoyed being outside tending her flowers and plants.  For much of her life, she maintained a vegetable garden and would can, pickle or preserve just about anything that grew in her garden or elsewhere, including tomatoes, green beans, plums, strawberries, pears, pineapple, peaches and relishes.  Her dill and bread & butter pickles were homemade and were stored on cellar shelves beside her pickled peaches, pickled crab apples, pickled watermelon rinds, canned grape juice, and homemade jams and preserves.

In her spare time, Emmy diligently kept the books for Hugh’s successful business.

Emmy and Hugh were fearless travelers, packing their seven children into the family station wagon for camping trips throughout Michigan, and to the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Florida and the Colorado Rockies, producing memories treasured by their children.  After her children were grown, Emmy retained her interest in the outdoors and went on many hiking trips around the country.

She took great pleasure in teaming for many years with her sister Pat in "Cellar Workshop" to create wooden puzzles and toys that they sold at a store in Northville and at craft fairs and other events.

Emmy also enjoyed golfing, bowling, board games, puzzles, reading, rooting for her favorite Detroit Tigers, and traveling with Hugh and many of their close friends. 

Emmy is survived by her beloved husband Hugh; their 7 children, Richard F. Caverly, Mary Sue (Roger) Berry, Michael D. (Linda) Caverly, Joseph L. (Dianne) Caverly, Edward L. (Mary) Caverly, Patricia Jean “Patsy” (Thomas) Wilson, and William T. (Angie) Caverly; 19 grandchildren, Doug, Jim (Diana), Tricia, Laura (Walt), Stephen, Dean (Kelsey), Lizzie, Gretchen (Forest), Matt, Emma, Richard, Nick (Maria), Jordan, Christopher (Paula), Audrey, Alex, Jillian, Lauren and Colin; and her dear sister Patricia Ann Smith.

Emmy was preceded in death by her brothers Philip Thomas Schmidt, Gerald Schmidt, and Francis Schmidt, and her sisters Angela Cecilia Schmidt, Mary Teresa Schmidt, and Beatrice Beddow.

Visitation for Emmy will be held on Friday, September 13, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Service at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. She will lie in state on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. until her Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Fabian Catholic Church, 32200 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. Lunch will be provided after Mass and burial will follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Emmy’s name may be made to Angel’s Place, 29299 Franklin Rd., Suite 2, Southfield, MI 48034.