Pamela Ann Stevens d'Emery

   Pamela Ann Stevens d'Emery, 73, of Hertford, NC, passed away on Friday, September 6, 2019. She was born on April 24, 1946 in South Orange, NJ to Matthew and Mary Louis Stevens and grew up in Irvington, NJ. She is predeceased by her parents and older brother Jan.

   Pam attended St Leo's grammar school, Archbishop Walsh High School and then earned her BA degree majoring in French at Caldwell College. In her junior year, she traveled to France and spent six weeks studying at the University of Rheims then touring Paris and Rome. A devout Catholic, Pam was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church, Edenton, NC and past member of its parish council.

   Always a social advocate, Pam was a member of the Essex County Young Democrats working along side Richard Codey, the future state senator and governor of New Jersey. She was aligned with organized labor including the Teacher's Union and AFL/CIO. Pam was also involved in the election campaigns of several politicians including Senator Harrison Williams and Governor Robert Meyer.

   After the assassination of President Kennedy, she organized a fund drive to help with the construction of the JFK Library and received a thank you letter from former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. In the summer of 1966, she served as a Congressional aide to Congressman Paul J. Krebs and Pam later met and shook hands with her long-time hero Robert F. Kennedy.

   Before her senior year in high school, Pam spent a summer in Cerro Azul, a remote village in Mexico teaching English and basic education to 40 grade-school children and a smaller group of high school students. As a French and Spanish teacher at Broadway Junior High in downtown Newark she also taught English as a second language at night. Pam was a caregiver, moving in with her mother to help care for her cancer stricken father for several years and later caring for her elderly mother and step-father.

   After teaching for seven years Pam embarked on a career in Human Resources working for several firms and a defense contractor at Fort Monmouth before landing a position with Jersey Central Power and Light (First Energy). Her integrity, values, extensive knowledge of HR and experience in labor relations made her a valuable asset as a team player and go-to person before retiring as a Senior HR Consultant in 2012.

   She married Charles (Sandy) d'Emery in Monmouth Beach, NJ in 1988 gaining a beloved step-daughter Carolina. In due course, Pam was Grandmere to four wonderful grandchildren Charles, Bran, Theresa and James who she absolutely adored.

   Pam's childhood passion was figure skating, starting with skating and ballet lessons from age eight and turning professional before entering college. A skilled tennis player, Pam also enjoyed ballroom dancing, swimming, golf, reading, gardening, board games, baking, shopping and entertaining.

   Pam's incredible smile, warm engaging personality and tart wit lit up the world. She was a gatherer and enjoyed bringing people together. Nothing made Pam happier than to be surrounded by people she respected and cherished. She was an avid lover of animals donating to shelters and preserves around the country and provided a loving home for many rescued dogs over her lifetime.

   Pam and Sandy moved to Albemarle Plantation in Hertford, NC, in 2013 where she embraced the lifestyle and found extraordinary friendship, camaraderie and compassion.

   In addition to her husband, step-daughter, and grandchildren Pam is survived by cousins Jodi Keenan, Darrell, Norman, and Michael Woitkowski, her niece Gina Schmidt and nephews Craig and Vincent Stevens.

   A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. in the Albemarle Plantation Clubhouse, Hertford.

   A Memorial Celebration will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. in the Church of the Precious Blood Parish Hall, Monmouth Beach, NJ.

   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ASPCA at www.aspca.org/donate or The Elephant Sanctuary at www.elephants.com.