Emma Estella (Quan) Escalante, a long time resident of Eatontown, NJ passed away with flawless grace and her family beside her on December 14, 2024 at the blessed age of 89.

Emma was born to the parents of Alfonso and Estella Quan in her beloved country of Belize. Her childhood was filled with the fondest memories of their family store with her mom working the register and her dad in the kitchen making a full dinner after closing time; every meal cherished and where her passion for cooking began.  Through food, she expressed her talent and her love and all were lucky to get a seat at her table.

In the mid 1950s, Emma met her husband Luis and immigrated to the United States in 1971, making Eatontown, New Jersey her forever home.  A cafeteria worker for the Eatontown and Neptune school systems, Emma baked and cooked everything from scratch while singing her way through each and every lunch prepared and cookie made.  Emma didn’t make it all the way up the educational ladder but when a short course was offered in culinary education, Emma went to night school several times a week at the Asbury Park High School, fiercely studied and came out first in her class with a perfect score of 100 proving that she was as smart as they come.  Her recipes were always sought out, most notably, on the menu at the Original Oyster.

Emma is predeceased by her husband Luis who she was married to for 61 dedicated years and is survived by her seven children: Alfonso & Joyce (Linda, Laurie), Elizabeth (Alex), Carlos & Donna (Michael, Travis, Jessee, Cassidy), Luis & Christina (Jason, Brandon), Patrick & Claudia (Nicholas), Miguel & Maria (Spencer, Quinton, Isabella) and Pamela & Kevin Donohoe (Everett) in addition to 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by siblings Louise, Sylvia and Richard, a large extended family and has joined her 9 predeceased siblings in peace and heavenly comfort.

She was a devout Catholic and prayed for everyone.  Her courage to make a better life for her family is forever appreciated and she will be missed until we see her again.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 18th 10:00 am at St. Dorothea’s RC Church, 240 Broad St., Eatontown, NJ. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in West Long Branch.