Emma Jean Edens

Emma Jean Drieling Hamel Edens was born on September 12, 1940, in Biloxi, MS. Her mother and father, Jamesina and Henry Drieling, will be waiting to greet her in Heaven, along with her brothers, Henry, Johnny, and George "Buddy", and her sisters, Henrietta "Reta" and Joyce; her first husband and father of her children, Raymond Hamel Sr.; and her son-in-law, Gregory Mark Landry. What a joyous reunion it will be, as large families are a blessing. Emma Jean is survived by her sister, Margie (Randy) McNair; her brother, Doug Drieling; sister-in-law Inez Drieling; six children: Raymond (Trena) Hamel Jr., Kathi Landry, Cindy (Delmas) Holley, Dawn Curticapian, Tracy (Nick) Ladner, and Conrad (Dianna) Hamel; thirteen grandchildren: Raymond Hamel III (Allison), Amber Dellenger (Kenny), Gwen Jacob (David), Keith Jenkins (Sabrina), Delmas Holley Jr., Austin Holley (Caitlin), Dylan Holley, Joseph Williams, Nicholas Ladner (Brandi), Wesley Ladner (Jillian), Jacob Ladner, Logan Ladner, and Noah Hamel; ten great grandchildren: Austin Jenkins, Jamison Jacob, Westin Ladner, Raegan Dellenger, Ryleigh Kate Merriman, Presley Jenkins, Hayden Jacob, Elena Ladner, Harper Grace Ladner, and Sawyer Ladner. Emma Jean was lucky to have found love twice in her life, and she also is survived by ex-husband and now close friend, Benny Edens. As we said, large families are indeed a blessing. Emma Jean, as many of her children and grandchildren called her, developed lung cancer in the last year and has struggled to overcome the disease but finally lost the battle Sunday, June 28, 2015. She was retired from House Klean at Keesler Air Force Base, and her home and family gave her the greatest joy. Her children have been with her night and day for these last few months, having slumber parties for her and when she was up to it, taking her out to the casinos for dinner and a few slots. Stories have been shared about her life and the neverending love she has shown to her children throughout their lives, and her easygoing nature and love of the Lord. She always called each of them daily to keep up with their lives and with so many children, she would spend hours on the phone making sure each one knew they were loved. Some people are truly blessed in life with having a great mother, and the Hamel children were indeed blessed. Happy memories of better times will be their peace and comfort in the coming days. The family would like to say thank you to Dr. Cyril Bethala, Dr. Olivia Hightower, Dr. Stephanie Fussell, and Dr. John Douglas for taking their mother under their wings and providing comfort and care to her and the family as she prepared to cross the bridge into the beautiful gates of Heaven. She was a member of the Church of Christ. The void they will face cannot be described. Visitation is Wednesday, July 1, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 675 Howard Avenue in Biloxi. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 2, 2015, in the funeral home chapel to celebrate the life of this great lady. Interment will follow in Biloxi City Cemetery.