Cleveland’s population was over five-hundred thousand, and it was the sixth largest city in the United States. The Tremont area on Cleveland’s west side was growing and bustling with people living, working, and creating families that would contribute to the fabric of the area. Paul Demian was one of the many merchants in the area. He had a small meat market and grocery store. He and his wife Suzanna were raising a family of daughters, Ellen, Elsie, Selma, and Emma, who was born on January 31, 1915. Emma Blanche Demian is now 110 years old. What a wealth of memories and experiences have been built in a century. “Our parents gave us a happy youth.” In addition to the meat market and grocery store, Emma’s father did furniture repair for high-end furniture stores. He even built a Grandfather clock which is still in the family. Emma says, “I’ve inherited a sense of craftmanship; from my mother it was handiwork and from my father, it was woodwork. My mother made all our clothing.”
Emma hasn’t lost her good taste in style and quality clothing and jewelry. She learned to sew and always had nice clothing for school. She graduated from Lincoln High School and went to work for an insurance company downtown as a bookkeeper. Every Friday she got her hair done at the beauty shop next to the insurance company.
The Demian family was an active member of the American Slovak Sokol Camp on Royalwood Road in Broadview Heights, and they would frequently travel out to the sticks to enjoy a day at camp. Emma speaks fluent Slovak and could bake delicious Slovak pastries that were always right for sharing with family and friends. Emma is still an honorary member of The Slovak Sokol and still speaks Slovak when she can.
At a friend’s wedding in 1940 a handsome young man walked over to her and asked, “May I have the pleasure of sitting this dance out with you?” Ed Kmet couldn’t dance but he got Emma to teach him. They danced at their own wedding on Thanksgiving Day, November 20,1941. That Saturday on their honeymoon, Ed took his new bride to a football game where his alma mater, Michigan, battled their archrival Ohio State and its rookie coach Paul Brown to a 20-20 tie.
In 1943 they moved to the rural area of North Royalton where they raised their three children Edward, Mary Louise, and Emmy. Son Eddie remembers, “Our street was paved with mud. We had woods in the back yard where we kids would play, and we would have many family picnics.” Eddie continues,” Our mom was an avid gardener. She planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs at the edge of the woods because the deer don’t eat them. She was also president of the North Royalton Garden Club for many years.” Emma’s husband Ed was one of the directors of Parma Hospital and he ran for mayor in 1965. The Kmet house was filled with family and friends. As the children grew and moved on to their own lives, the Kmets traveled. Once her cousin Vera remarked, “Her house was like a museum, souvenirs from places they had been.” Emma’s house was a house of comfort too. As many relatives passed on, “sitting around Aunt Emma’s table drinking coffee or sipping Margaritas was a big help,” said her niece Suzanne Young.
Emma’s family continues to surround her. Emma’s 80-year-old son, Eddie, hosted a birthday party with 50 people in attendance. With laughter, food, and a great Cassata cake, they celebrated 110 years of good living. Emma received more than 500 birthday cards from around the world. In addition, Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz presented Emma with a Proclamation in Celebration of eleven decades of enthusiasm for life. Emma’s secret for longevity is…. “Keep working, don’t retire.” That is something her father used to tell her. Her daughter Emmy reminded everyone that her mom always says goodbye with, “God bless you, and I love you,” until they meet again.

By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer