Emma Broederlow Lobendahn

Emma Broederlow Lobendahn

August 14, 1921 – October 29, 2020

Emma Lobendahn (nee Broederlow), formerly of Suva, Fiji, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2020 in Santa Rosa, CA, at the age of 99. She died of natural causes surrounded by family.

She is preceded in death by her husband Henry “Harry” Lobendahn and her two sons Bryan and Elliott (Susan). She is survived by her daughter Irene Lesuma (Meli), son Alex Lobendahn (Natalie) and has 17 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren who love and adore her very much.

Born in 1921 in Savaii, Samoa, Emma was the fifth of 12 children of Johann Peter Oscar Broederlow and Valasi Sa’e Asomua. In 1945, she had plans to travel to New Zealand but stopped in Fiji to visit her brother and sister-in-law. It was there that she met her sister-in-law’s brother Harry whom she unexpectedly fell in love with and married. Together they raised their four children.

Service, charity and faith were key attributes in her life. She had abounding love for her family, Savior Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. As one of the first members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Fiji, Emma served in many church assignments including the first Relief Society President in the Suva branch for 23 years. She touched thousands of lives in her service.

Emma had many different callings and titles in life but her most favorite has to be Nana. She was not only Nana to her grandchildren but to everyone who knew and loved her. Nana had many talents and interests and she excelled in everything she did. She was the matriarch of our family and a wonderful homemaker who filled her home with an abundance of love for all who entered.

Words simply cannot express how much we will miss our dear mother but we find comfort knowing that we will reunite once again. Thank you for your love and support.