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On February
17, 2016 I received the following email from Karen Caseman: Dear Mr. Felton, I was looking into Cresson and came across
your articles and information. My Mom, Emma Caseman was a patient in Cresson around 1942. She was there for
three years. She died at age 50 and I was 12 at the time. I have been wanting to know more about her
life there. Is there a historical society or museum I can visit? She didn't talk
about it, but I remember her scar down her back and how she wanted it rubbed with lotion. I was
so afraid of it. If you can pass along any contact information, I would appreciate it. Sincerely, Karen Caseman (kcbeimel@yahoo.com)
_________________________________________________________________________ Emma Parzaile was born January 25, 1920. In 1943 she married Robert Caseman who was in the service during WW2 at
that time. Several years later Emma developed a bad cough which sometimes kept her siblings up at night. She was
soon diagnosed with TB and sent to Cresson San where she would spend almost three years before being cured. As part
of her treatment, she had surgery at a hospital in Philadelphia to remove one of her lungs. Upon her discharge she lived
with her in-laws to rest.
The doctors at the San told Emma it would be better for her not to have
any children, but if she did, not to have more than one. But Emma had always wanted a family and had four children,
three girls and a boy, all while she was in her 30s. Her daughter Karen remembers that Emma had a lot of fancy robes
and bed jackets she brought home with her from the San which were stored in a cedar chest. She was an amazing cook,
had a huge garden and was a hard worker.
When she was in her
late 40's she had pneumonia two winters in a row. Spent her last year in and out of hospitals and nursing homes. Emma
died in 1971 leaving behind her husband, four children and ten brothers and sisters.
_________________________________________________________________________ Emma's photos are presented in the next 4 pages. _________________________________________________________________________ |
