Emmy Lou Sterling, age 88, of East Grand Rapids, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2015. She was born in Long Beach, CA and moved to Seattle, WA where she met and married her husband, Bob in 1945. They settled in Bob’s hometown, Grand Rapids, MI. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Elizabeth Potter. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Robert C. Sterling, her children, Nancy (Rick) Schalk, Robert A. Sterling, Barbara (Tom) Deverman, JoAnn Lipscomb, Susan Bennett, Martha (Robert) Ray and Thomas A. Sterling; twelve grandchildren and six great grandchildren; her brother Wallace (Suzy) Greene; three nephews and one niece. Emmy Lou was a member of the Annettes of St. Stephen Catholic Church, Mary Catherine Guild of St. Mary’s Hospital, Women’s City Club, Ladies Literary Club, and The Babies’ Welfare Guild. Emmy Lou served on the Board of Directors of St. Mary’s Hospital for four years. She was a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony and East Hills Tennis Club. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling and dancing with Bob. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 750 Gladstone Dr. S.E., East Grand Rapids on Saturday, November 7th at 11:00 am. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the Mass. A light luncheon will follow the memorial. Internment at Resurrection Cemetery. The family would like to thank Sunrise Senior Living of Cascade, especially Deb Rost and the care managers in Reminiscence neighborhood for their exceptional and loving care of Emmy Lou; Melissa Potter Brainard for taking good care of her grandma; Hospice of Michigan for their wonderful care in her hour of need. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Annettes of St. Stephen Catholic Church and Hospice of Michigan, in Emmy Lou’s memory.