Emma Steele

In Loving Memory of Emma Louise Steele
July 6, 1939 – July 30, 2025

With profound sadness and loving remembrance, we announce the peaceful passing of Emma Louise Steele, a spirited, creative, and fiercely devoted woman whose vibrant life journey came to a gentle close on July 30, 2025. Known affectionately by many as Emmy and Emily, Emma was a source of love, wisdom, and strength to all who knew her.

Born on July 6, 1939, in the quiet town of Neffs, Ohio, Emma was the daughter of William and Daisy Poole, from whom she inherited her resilience, sense of humor, and a deep-rooted appreciation for faith and family. She grew up surrounded by the rolling hills and rich traditions of Appalachian Ohio, experiences that shaped her character and inspired her lifelong love of nature and beauty.

Throughout her life, Emma wore many names and many hats—Emma Poole, Emma Boley, and Emma Steele—each representing a different chapter of a rich, multifaceted life. She traveled and lived in several places across the country, including Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Florida, before returning to her beloved Ohio and making her home in Canton.

Emma possessed a quiet strength and an imaginative spirit. She had a remarkable talent for landscaping and decorating, often transforming everyday spaces into serene, welcoming retreats. Whether she was planting vibrant flowers in her garden, thoughtfully arranging furniture, or decorating for the seasons, Emma brought color and comfort into the lives of those around her.

Her love of words was another defining part of who she was. A passionate crossword enthusiast and an expressive poet, Emma used language to connect with others and to explore her innermost thoughts. Her poems were often woven with threads of faith, gratitude, and hope, reflecting her deep spiritual life. Among her most cherished scriptures was John 10:14–15, a passage that reflected her unwavering trust in God's love and care:

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Above all, Emma was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. Her family was the center of her world and the legacy of her love. She is survived by her beloved children: her son, Charles Boley, and daughters Peggy (Mark) Godfrey, Patty Groom, and Holly (Jim) Ralston. She is also remembered with affection by her dear brother, Chuck Poole, and by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and step great-grandchildren, all of whom carry forward her laughter, creativity, and strength.

Emma is now reunited in eternal peace with those who preceded her in death: her parents, William and Daisy Poole; her cherished son, David Boley; her grandson, Joseph Boley; her former husband, Earl Boley; siblings, Doine Henry Poole and Margaret Herzog; and son-in-law Alfred "Al" Groom. While her absence leaves a deep void, we find comfort in knowing she is now at peace, embraced by the loved ones who went before her.

A celebration of Emma’s life will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 2:30 PM, at the Schneeberger-Oser Funeral Home, located at 2222 Fulton Road Northwest, Canton, Ohio 44709. The family invites all who knew Emma to join in remembering her extraordinary life and the many ways she touched the hearts of those around her.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Emma’s memory are encouraged to share their favorite stories, photographs, or personal tributes on her memorial page at www.SchneebergerFuneral.com. Your reflections will be a meaningful gift to her family and a celebration of the joy and light she brought into the world.

Emma Louise Steele will be remembered for her fierce devotion, quiet humor, boundless creativity, and unwavering faith. She taught us to find beauty in the simple things, to speak kindly, to love fully, and to walk through life with strength and grace. May her legacy live on in the gardens she tended, the verses she penned, and the hearts she so deeply touched.