Erma B. Decker

Storrs, CT - Erma Bell (Miller) Decker, 81, of Storrs passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus her Savior on November 22 after a period of failing health. For the last 6 years, she has been a resident at Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation. Erma was born in Bloomington, Illinois on November 14, 1929, the daughter of Joseph and Isabelle (Roberts) Miller. She was a 1947 graduate of Bloomington High School. She moved to Connecticut in 1952 after marrying, and lived a significant amount of time in Watertown. She had a beautiful soprano voice, and was a member of the First Congregational Church Choir. She always sang "O Holy Night" solo at the Christmas Eve services because she could easily hit the high note at the end of the song. She worked for many years at Allyn's Cleaners on Echo Lake Road before retiring to Storrs. After retirement, she volunteered as a classroom grandmother in the Mansfield school system, because she had always wanted to be a teacher. She was known as "Grandma Erma" to the students. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Lloyd, and by her brothers Joseph, Russell, and Byrl, and her sisters, Hazel and Minnie. She is survived by a son, Bruce Decker, and his wife, Holly, of Barrington, NH; a daughter, Linda Decker Tidwell, and her husband Joe of Charlotte, NC; two grandsons, Capt. Stephen Decker of Minot, ND, and Sgt. Mark Decker of Seoul, South Korea; two "grand-dogs"; plus several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Mansfield Center for Nursing RECREATION FUND, 100 Warren Circle, Storrs, CT 06268. Her family will receive friends and relatives on Monday, November 29th form 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street, in Willimantic. Burial will follow in the Storrs Cemetery, North Eagleville Road in Storrs. Please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com for online memorial guest book.