Members of the Emmaus Garden Club marked Arbor Day by planting a “Rising Sun” redbud tree at Faith Presbyterian Church in Emmaus and dedicating the tree in memory of their longtime member Dorothy Nicholas.

The ceremony was held at fellowship hall at the church recently with approximately 40 people, including garden club and church members, in attendance to share in the celebration and tell of the many accomplishments Dorothy Nicholas achieved during her lifetime.

The tree was planted earlier that week and the ceremony was held indoors.

Faye Schuler, Emmaus Garden Club president said a floral arrangement displayed included branches from a “Rising Sun” redbud tree and she invited attendees to look at the arrangement after the ceremony.

Opening with prayer, The Rev. Rebecca Mallozzi, Pastor Becki, a new pastor at the church, said she did not know Dorothy Nicholas but spoke of the trees in the garden of Eden and the Tree of Life in the center of the new city of God.

“I read and thought about Dottie and how she lived in between the trees. That is how we should live,” Mallozzi said.

Heather Nicholas, Dorothy’s daughter, traveled from Texas to attend and spoke about Faith Presbyterian as her mother’s true home and how the members there have been true and embodied everything she believed in. Oddly enough, Heather Nicholas said, she has the same type of tree growing outside near her back door and it goes through phases that are exactly like her mother.

“Even when the tree goes into fall and goes dormant and the leaves fall off and roll with the wind and leaves go into my apartment, it really aggravates me like my mother did on occasion,” Heather Nicholas said, drawing laughter from members of the audience.

“So it’s memorable and reminds you of these life cycles. I thank you for doing this and I appreciate you all so much,” Heather Nicholas said.

Two garden club members spoke about Dorothy Nicholas. First to speak was Roselyn Parry who said Dorothy Nicholas was a spirited leader and had many interests, talents and accomplishments in Upper Millford Township and Emmaus including writing three children’s books and drawing a map of Emmaus. Parry will give the books and map to the club for their historical records.

“I hope the tree will grow and blossom like she did. I am following in Dottie’s footsteps and hope Dottie is remembered for the things she has done,” Parry said.

Emmaus Garden Club member Diane Huddleston, filling in for Sandra Bachman who could not attend, read what Bachman wrote about Dorothy Nicholas. Huddleston read of Dorothy Nicholas’s creativity, how she shared her interests in art and gardening, won many awards, was known statewide and nationwide and how she promoted the Emmaus Garden Club by fundraising and tours. Dorothy Nicholas was also a student advocate for gardening and chaired the club’s scholarship committee.

Church members Diane Millick, Lynn Ingram, Darcy Dodd, Dorothy Smickley Brown, Abby Barna, Carolyn Benner and Betsy Hahn each commented on their friendship with Dorothy Nicholas and how she will be missed.

Schuler read a proclamation about Dorothy Nicholas sent by Emmaus Mayor Lee Ann Gilbert who could not attend the ceremony.

Dorothy Able Scholl Nicholas, of Emmaus, died Dec. 14, 2017, according to an obituary in The Press.