Sr. Groth was born Dec. 21, 1920, in Detroit to Valentine “William” and Marion “Mary” (Girard) Groth and was baptized Rose Norma. She attended St. Clement and Holy Name of Jesus schools
and graduated from Holy Name of Jesus High School in Detroit. She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe in 1948 and received the religious name Sister Emerentia.
Sr. Groth earned degrees from Marygrove College and Wayne State University, Detroit. For almost 30 years, she taught at Catholic elementary schools in Michigan: St. John, Jackson; Holy Redeemer and Christ the King, Detroit; St. Thomas, Ann Arbor; St. Phillip, Battle Creek; Sacred Heart, Auburn Heights; Holy Name, Birmingham; and St. Anne, Warren.
In 1975, Sr. Groth began nursing courses at St. Clair Community College and served as a licensed practical nurse at St. Mary Infirmary, Monroe. She also ministered at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Ohio.
Sr. Groth moved to Allen Park in 1992 and volunteered at Oakwood Health Care System in Dearborn, as well as St. Frances Cabrini Parish. In 2003, she retired.
Sr. Groth is survived by her sister, Joann Keith, and brother, Francis. Her sister, Mary Ann Ritter, and brothers, Lloyd, Earl, Carl, Vincent, Bernard and David, preceded her in death.
A memorial Mass was celebrated May 12 in the Motherhouse Chapel. Burial is in St. Mary Cemetery.
