Emma H. Reiss

Emma H. Reiss, 94, a long-time resident of New Haven, died on August 17 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She was born in Antioch, Florida, one of nine children of Henry Riley Hutto and Olief Blanche Wetherington. 

She earned a B.A in nursing at Orlando Hospital’s nursing program, and during World War II served in the Army Nursing Corp as a First Lieutenant and surgical nurse in Udine, Italy.  After the War, she earned a Master’s degree in Nursing at Vanderbilt University, where she also taught in the Nursing program.  In Nashville, she met and married Albert J. Reiss, Jr., a professor of Sociology.  Emma and Al had three children and lived in Iowa City, Madison (WI), and Ann Arbor (MI) before moving to New Haven in 1970 when Al began teaching at Yale.   

After raising her children, Emma returned to her career as a Registered Nurse and joined the staff of the Veteran’s Hospital in West Haven, retiring at age 72.  She was a parishioner at Christ Episcopal Church in Bethany and volunteered for many years on the Flower Committee and the Altar Guild.

She is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, August 26 at 10am at Christ Episcopal Church in Bethany.  Memorial gifts in her name may be made to Christ Episcopal Church at 526 Amity Road, Bethany, CT 06524, www.christchurchbethany.org. 

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