Annette's husband and their five children (Marcelline,11; James, Jr,9; Carolyn Joyce,7; Hazel Ruth,4; and William,2) were killed in a house fire in Pleasantville, PA, in the early morning hours of Jan 19, 1947. Annette died in Titusville Hospital six days later. The entire family is buried in a common grave (Lot 35B).

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"Mrs Emerson Succumbs To Injuries...Becomes 7th Victim Of Dwelling Fire Near Pleasantville...LAST OF FAMILY...Charlotte Annette Emerson, 34, died at the Titusville Hospital last night at 10 o'clock, victim of the fire that took the lives of her five small children and her husband, James L (Bus) Emerson early last Sunday morning. The family home, two miles south of Pleasantville, was destroyed by flames tha swept through it shortly after 1:30 Sunday morning, following an explosion of gasoline in a small kitchen stove. Although Mrs Emerson's burns covered the entire body except her head and face and only slight hopes were entertained for her recovery after she miraculously escaped instant death, she lingered nearly six full days after the horrible disaster. Mrs Emerson was blown out of the house by the explosion of gasoline in the kitchen stove just as Mr Emerson was being brought home by Kenneth Robinson of Pleasantville. The men went to her assistance first and then as Robinson ran to the end of the building and made a vain attempt to rescue the children from their bedroom, the husband and father dashed into the flame-filled building to accomplish the same purpose, but was quickly stricken down by the flames. His body was found just a few steps inside the building...Woman Fightfully Burned...Mrs Emerson, her clothing burned from her body and some of her flesh burned so deeply it fell away, was rushed to the Titusville Hospital by Leo McIntyre of Pleasantville, one of the first to reach the scene. The unfortunate mother knew of the death of her children and was unconsolable during her remaining hours of consciousness, declaring to her mother and sisters that she did not wish to live. She was not told that her husband had also perished. Her death last night completely wipes out the family of seven persons. Charlotte Annette Kenniston was born on Nov 23, 1912, near Grand Valley, a daughter of Thomas L and Lilah Kenniston. When a young woman, she came to Titusville for employment and was married in 1935 to Mr Emerson. They lived here until they moved to Pleasantville about five years ago. They had five children, Marceline, 11; James Jr, 9; Carolyn Joyce, 7; Hazel Ruth, 4; and William, 2, all of whom perished last Sunday morning...Was One of Large Family...Mrs Emerson leaves her parents and five sisters and four brothers as follows: Mrs Sidney Winans of Spartansburg; Kenneth Kenniston of Perrysburg, NY; Mrs Lester Highfield (sic) [Highfill] of Wilmington, Del; Rexford Kenniston of East Branch; Mrs Albert Barker of Route 3, Ttusville; Mrs Avery Yost of Governors Island, NY; Mrs Lawrence Murdock of Spartansburg, and William and Ted, at the family home at Eldred Center (Route 1, Grand Valley). There are also several nieces and nephews. The body was taken to the E A Peterson funeral home, where friends may call and where services will be conducted on Tuesday at 2 pm by Rev Albert Broadhurst. Interment will be made beside the remains of the husband and children, who are buried in a common grave in the Tidioute cemetery."

(Titusville Herald, Jan 25, 1947, p.2)