Columbia- A funeral service for Irmgard "Emma" L. Stippich Hamel, 89, of Columbia, will be held at 12 o'clock, Monday, September 28th, 2020, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, with Pastor Patricia Sargent and Pastor Jim Blackwelder officiating. Interment will follow at 2 o'clock, at Fort Jackson National Cemetery. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 11 o'clock. The Order of the Eastern Star will begin at 11:30 o'clock. Mask and Social Distancing are required to maintain a safe environment for all. For those unable to attend the service, a livestream of the service will be available by visiting her tribute page at ShivesFuneralHome.com

Mrs. Hamel died on Sunday, September 20, 2020. Born in Bad-Hersfeld, Germany on December 27, 1930 she was the daughter of the late Willie Stippich and Liesel Siebert Stippich.

Mrs. Hamel was a charter member of Peterson Presbyterian Church, past Worthy Matron and a lifelong member of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) Fort Jackson Chapter#253 and of the Dentsville Chapter #273.

Survivors include son, James Harvey Hamel, Jr. (Diane) of St. Matthews, SC; daughters, Karen Hamel Reed (Scott) of Columbia, and Linda Hamel Martin (Johnnie) of Lexington, SC; sister, Ingeborg Buschbacher (Sebastian) of Bad-Hersfeld, Germany; and sister-in-law Elaine Price of Asheville, NC; grandchildren, Tara Hamel Graham (Robert), John Dustin Reed (Adrian), Alyson Reed Chain (David), Stephanie Bacon Peneranda, and Lindsey Bacon; great-grandchildren, Kyle, Garrett, Emalee, Elijah, Savannah, Turner, Alexander, Laila; along with many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Harvey Hamel; sister, Renate "Renee" Stippich Hinson; and sister in-laws, Catherine Cabaniss, Martha Hilton, Helen Mathis and Clara Rast.

The family wishes to extend their sincerest gratitude and appreciation for the love, friendship, and support of her dearest friend Mrs. Anna Royal. The family also extends their appreciation for the endearing care as provided by Ashley, Meaghan, Medra, and Vernita of Always Best Care, and Lighthouse Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Peterson Presbyterian Church, 8131 Brookfield Road, Columbia, South Carolina, 29223, or to the Order of the EOS, Dentsville Chapter #273.

Mrs. Hamel will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.