Darla and her twin brother, Dana Wayne, were born prematurely on May 30, 1957, in Topeka to Don and Kathleen (Dietz) Emery. Dana lived only a day. Darla excelled in academics and music. She traveled Europe with the U.S. Honor Band. She attended Washburn University where she earned a Bachelor s of Science Degree in Nursing.
She excelled as a Registered Nurse, gaining the respect of nursing staff and patients through intelligent and effective care. She was seen as the go to nurse in many instances. She worked her entire nursing career at St. Francis Health Care Center, first as a Critical Care nurse where she rose to charge nurse, and later as an Ask a Nurse, an outreach service once provided by St. Francis.
Darla took charge of her illness, leaving a lasting impression on those who cared for her and shared her situation. Darla became ill in 1975 and started dialysis in 1977. Challenging doctors and nurses along the way about her care and taking an active role, Darla dialyzed three times a week for up to four hours at a time for 37 years. She is thought to have been on dialysis longer than any patient in Kansas and possibly the United States.
Darla is survived by her mother, Kathleen Emery; her two younger sisters, Ronna Rowe, Kansas City, Kansas and Jodie (David) Bevens, Topeka; four nephews, whom she treated as her own children, Nathan (Stacie) Rowe, Lenexa, Ks; Justin (Becky) Rowe, Oak Grove, Mo; Aaron (Liz) Stickler, Topeka; and Matthew Bevens, Topeka. She is great aunt to Samara and Zachary Rowe.
Besides her twin brother, she was preceded in death by her father, Don Emery Jr., and brother-in-law, John Rowe.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Saturday, March 16 at Central Park Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the Penwell- Gable Mid Town Chapel. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Darla Emery Memorial Nursing Scholarship in care of the funeral home, 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604. To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com. Darla Layne Emery
Published in Topeka Capital-Journal on March 14, 2013
Darla and her twin brother, Dana Wayne, were born prematurely on May 30, 1957, in Topeka to Don and Kathleen (Dietz) Emery. Dana lived only a day. Darla excelled in academics and music. She traveled Europe with the U.S. Honor Band. She attended Washburn University where she earned a Bachelor s of Science Degree in Nursing.
She excelled as a Registered Nurse, gaining the respect of nursing staff and patients through intelligent and effective care. She was seen as the go to nurse in many instances. She worked her entire nursing career at St. Francis Health Care Center, first as a Critical Care nurse where she rose to charge nurse, and later as an Ask a Nurse, an outreach service once provided by St. Francis.
Darla took charge of her illness, leaving a lasting impression on those who cared for her and shared her situation. Darla became ill in 1975 and started dialysis in 1977. Challenging doctors and nurses along the way about her care and taking an active role, Darla dialyzed three times a week for up to four hours at a time for 37 years. She is thought to have been on dialysis longer than any patient in Kansas and possibly the United States.
Darla is survived by her mother, Kathleen Emery; her two younger sisters, Ronna Rowe, Kansas City, Kansas and Jodie (David) Bevens, Topeka; four nephews, whom she treated as her own children, Nathan (Stacie) Rowe, Lenexa, Ks; Justin (Becky) Rowe, Oak Grove, Mo; Aaron (Liz) Stickler, Topeka; and Matthew Bevens, Topeka. She is great aunt to Samara and Zachary Rowe.
Besides her twin brother, she was preceded in death by her father, Don Emery Jr., and brother-in-law, John Rowe.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Saturday, March 16 at Central Park Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the Penwell- Gable Mid Town Chapel. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Darla Emery Memorial Nursing Scholarship in care of the funeral home, 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604. To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com. Darla Layne Emery
Published in Topeka Capital-Journal on March 14, 2013
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