Emma J Perez

Emma Jean Perez, 97, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026. A lifelong Ohioan, she was born in Akron and lived for 72 years in Tallmadge, in a house she built together with her husband and father, a carpenter by trade.

Service was an important part of Emma’s life. She often talked about and had fond memories of being a Girl Scout leader, a founding member of the Tallmadge Jaycee’s Wives Organization, and an active member of the First Congregational Church of Tallmadge for over 50 years. She also enjoyed golfing and oil painting, particularly landscapes and still lifes of flowers. In her later years, she helped deliver Mobile Meals and enjoyed being part of the Tallmadge Primetimers. For much of her life, too, she was an avid walker, doing daily three-mile laps around town, which may well be how she stayed trim despite her legendary sweet tooth.

Family was everything to Emma. She was never happier or more radiant than when she was surrounded by those she loved: her parents, sisters, and especially her son and granddaughters—the three lights of her life; she thought the sun rose and set on them—as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Pete; parents, Hugh and Betty Crislip,; and sisters, Barbara Parry and Joyce Gillespie.

Emma is survived by her son, Raymond (Alissa); granddaughters, Julia and Nicki; and the aforementioned nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be between 11AM to 12:30PM on Friday, April 17, at the Donovan Funeral Home, 17 Southwest Ave. (on the historic Tallmadge Circle).

Funeral service will follow visitation at 12:30PM.

Interment will be at Tallmadge Cemetery.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Emma Jean Perez (Crislip), please visit our flower store. For those who prefer a charitable donation, please consider Mobile Meals at Axess Family Services. https://axessfamilyservices.org/services/community-resources/mobile-meals/