Emma Rotchford, 101, passed away at home with all her family present on Sunday morning, May 10.
The lifelong Port Richmond resident was born and died in the same house on the 2900 block of Cedar Street.
The Star interviewed Rotchford in January 2019 to commemorate her centenarian milestone.
Rotchford helped her family run its business, Zobel’s Stables, in the heart of Port Richmond until it ceased operations in 2005, when the sole remaining horse, Midnight, passed away.
Aside from taking care of the family business and riding horses, Rotchford loved her soap operas and walking her grandchildren to school.
Rotchford and her husband, William Rotchford, grew up in houses with backyards across from each other. The couple were childhood sweethearts and were married from 1957 to 1976.
Rotchford lived through 18 different presidents and the Spanish flu, and survived COVID-19.
She is the youngest of 13 children and is survived by two sons, William (Eileen) and Steven Rotchford; four grandchildren, Angela, Billy, Steven and Rebecca; four great-grandchildren, Julia, Madison, Kenny and Emily; and her 12-year-old cat, Snuggles.
Rotchford and her smile will be missed by many.
Funeral arrangements will be released when available.
