Emily Hobbs

Emily L. Hobbs was a precious child, delightful granddaughter, loving sister and dear friend, who delighted in spending time with her loved ones. She was an amazing young lady who was mature beyond her years yet every bit the little girl who loved to socialize and have fun. Emily appeared reserved until she got to know people, but then her sweet, shy smile invited others into her warmth. She was determined and resilient, accepting and respectful. Because of her big heart, she always put others first and so made life beautiful for everyone around her.

Contrary to concerns of widespread computer failures and malfunctions, the new millennium came and went with rather quietly. On October 1 of that year, Deb Ciminelli and Patrick Hobbs welcomed their daughter Emily into their home and hearts.

For the first 12 years of her life, Emily was the picture of health. In 2012, she was treated by the very best doctors and specialists in the country for a disease of her major blood vessels that didn’t even have a name. Emily experienced the utmost care from her family and health professionals. Such was the frustration of the doctors and medical staff, yet their devotion to repair Emily’s “damaged and complicated little body” was dauntless.

Trying to not let people know she had a medical condition, Emily was intent on living a full pre-teen life. She used to play soccer and recently took up tennis, read and watched TV. She consumed the Hunger Games and Vampire Academy series and tuned in to Anime cartoons, Hetalia, Black Butler, Law & Order and various vampire shows. Her choices seemed to reflect her own intrepid spirit.

Emily was a member of the Girl Scouts and recently became interested in photography. She was looking forward to taking photography classes in high school when school would begin in the fall. First, she had to complete middle school and take part in all the big 8th grade events at Gates Chili Middle School: the class trip to Niagara Falls, the Farewell Dance and, of course, 8th Grade graduation with the class of 2014. It was very important to Emily that she reached this milestone and tackled her wish list before having complex surgery, scheduled for that same summer. She completed her list in recent weeks when she went to see Blood in the Dance Floor in concert and was able to meet the band leaders in person.

On Monday, July 14, Emily underwent extensive and complicated surgery in Boston. The surgery would replace her entire descending aorta with Gore-Tex material and then connect all of the other major narrowed vessels to major organs to it. The family had made the decision to do whatever was possible with the knowledge and experience that was available at the time. It was judged that, in the near future, Emily could have an episode from which she would not be able to recover. Surgery was her only hope.

Emily was unafraid. In the face of her own health challenges, she remained strong. Her hopefulness and courage astounded those around her and deeply touched all who had the privilege of knowing her.

At the very end of a 20-hour procedure, Emily’s heart stopped. It took 14 minutes to revive her, yet the doctors were hopeful she would recover. However, due to her condition, her brain did not receive enough blood flow for too long a time, and the damage was too extensive. “Honestly, she never really came back to us after her surgery,” said her family.

Emily never stopped fighting, but her body just couldn't anymore. She had always done everything every doctor asked or told her to do, and her spirit never faltered. People would ask her family, "How do you do it?" But their response was, “It wasn't us. It was Emily who did it all. Had she not been so amazing in how she handled everything, we definitely would not have been able to do it.”

“Our hearts are broken.

Our bodies are numb.

Our minds are still filled with disbelief and so many questions.”

Emily‘s family often remarked that she had the biggest heart in the world and taught all of them the true meaning of bravery. They may receive some of the comfort and strength they need from the remarkable courage of the daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend they love with all their heart.

On Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 10:50 PM, “the sweetest little lady in the world was officially taken from us” at age 13. She will be greatly missed.

Emily’s family would like to extend special thanks to both the Nephrology & Cardiology departments at Golisano’s Children’s Hospital at Strong, to Boston Children’s Hospital and the Italian American Coalition for Kids.

Emily L. Hobbs, of Chili, New York, is survived by her parents, Deb Ciminelli and Patrick Hobbs; sister, Hailey Ciminelli; brother, Bobby Hobbs; maternal grandparents, Pat and Bob Whalen; paternal grandmother, Christine Christy; paternal great-grandmother, Joan Bowers; aunts, Cindy (Scott) Sullivan and Jamie (Tracey) Castle; uncle, Bob Whalen; first cousins, Amanda Sullivan; Jacob, Alivia, Sophia and Nathan Castle; many great aunts and uncles, cousins and dear friends. For more about Emily, visit www.aliferemembered.com. Emily's visitation is Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane (between 390 and Long Pond Rd) where her life will be celebrated at a funeral service on Saturday at 11 AM. Interment in Riverside Cemetery.