Emily Catherine Dawson's Obituary
Emily Catherine Dawson, 25, of Voorhees, New Jersey passed away on April 2, 2020 after a long four-year battle. Cherished and beloved daughter of Amy (Connelly) Dawson, loving sister of Luke and Kitty Dawson, stepdaughter of William Eldridge, and mom to her adored Vizsla, Lily.
Emily leaves behind aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, especially Mary Lou Connelly, Tim and Diane Oates, Sarah Connelly, and her much-loved "soup mom," Joann Devone. Emily is predeceased by her grandparents, Lawrence and Virginia Connelly of Sherborn, Massachusetts, and our family dog, Jimmy. Emily is joyfully reunited with them in heaven.
Born in Rutland, Vermont, on February 6, 1995, Emily grew up in Hillsborough and Lawrenceville, New Jersey. After graduating from Lawrence High School, she attended The College of St. Rose in Albany, New York.
Emily had immeasurable love for her family, and lovingly called us "Team Dawson." She absolutely adored her brother and sister, referring to them as her best friends, and they were. Emily was never far from her mother's side. She loved to dance and was a proud member of The College of St. Rose Dance Team. She modeled, was in a music video, and dreamed of a career in acting. Emily loved chicken soup and pretty spoons. She was a true friend, who most could only dream of finding in their lifetime. She will be forever remembered as one of the funniest people we've ever known. She was brave.
Those who knew Emily, even just a little, lost a sparking light in their lives. Despite her illness, Emily was an early riser and made every day count. She fought with great courage and quiet dignity for four years. Her love for life, her family, and her dog kept her going. She had an energy that if you met her just once, you'd remember her forever. Emily had a gift of bringing people together and a sixth sense about others that was rarely wrong.
The person Emily was is what's missing in the world today: people willing to slow down, to take the time to speak kindly to strangers, to genuinely want to know others, their feelings, and dreams. There isn't a store or restaurant in town where the employees don't know and love Emily. That is not by chance; it was purposeful. It was who Emily was… a person who took the time for others and only wished for their time in return. She believed in her mantra by Dr. Seuss, "A person's a person no matter how small." No one was "too small" to Emily. She knew that when you show love to others, you, in turn, feel truly loved yourself. Let her life inspire you to reach out to others no matter how small; in that way, our devastating loss of Em is not in vain.
Emily touched the lives of so many and was the light of ours. When you think of Emily, treasure the moments you had with her. Remember, life is fragile and to live yours to the fullest. It's what she'd want most for all of us. Rest in peace, Emmy. We count the days until we are with you again. We love you more.
A gathering of friends and family will be held on Saturday, October 10th at 3pm at Woodcrest Country Club, 300 E. Evesham Road, Cherry Hill, NJ.
Our family has designated Special Olympics of New Jersey for memorial contributions ( www.sonj.org). Please check back on Emily’s Facebook page or Givnish Funeral Home’s website for further details.
What’s your fondest memory of Emily?
What’s a lesson you learned from Emily?
Share a story where Emily's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Emily you’ll never forget.
How did Emily make you smile?