Irma Semanision
Irma (Keen) Semanision, 91, formerly of Son Keen Road, Plant City, died Wednesday, June 1.
Mrs. Semanision was first the wife of the late Paul Biery and then married the late Michael Semanision.
She was the last surviving child of Sally and Zadok Keen. Zadok’s father, Jesse Keen, built Jesse Keen Elementary School in Lakeland and was a cousin of H.B. Plant. He was a homesteader on 180 acres, with two cabins on the property.
The family’s ancestors were one of the first Europeans in Florida, having come over from Ireland in the late 1500s.
She lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania for much of her adult life but spent her last years in Lancaster.
She loved reading and studying her Bible, teaching Sunday school and leading Bible studies.
She was a daily prayer warrior for her family, missionaries and others. She was dedicated to her Savior and to those who were spreading the good news of God’s loving provision.
She was not only a homemaker, seamstress and cook but also loved to read and spend time with her family. She did some part-time work but in later years became a pediatric nurse, working for 15 years in that field.
She was a former member of Zion E.C. and First Baptist Church of Allentown, a member at Faith E.C. Church Lancaster and also attended the Seed of Abraham Congregation
She is survived by five children, Paul Biery (Norva), of North Carolina, Ted Semanision (Helen), of Florida, Neal Semanision (Lois), of Papa New Guinea, Joy Richards (Bill), of Pennsylvania, and Susan Deatrick (David), of Pennsylvania; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Faith E.C. Lancaster, 2124 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Interlink Ministries Inc. for Neal Semanision, 11234 Hackett Road, Apple Creek, Ohio 44606, or to Wycliffe Associates, 11450 Translation Way, P.O. Box 620143, Orlando, Florida 32862.
