Our sweet Emily Dade stepped out of this life and into the light on July 15, 2007. Her journey on earth ended peacefully at home, embraced by her family, and lifted up by their love and that of her many friends.
Beautiful, spirited, compassionate, funny, and very, very brave, Emily’s four-year walk with breast cancer touched and inspired everyone she met. She more than lived up to her given name, “Thankful.”
Emily, born in 1977, was so happy to mark her 30th birthday on June 6, celebrating with a cheering crowd and her favorite dessert: her mom’s pineapple-upside down cake.
Emily and her soulmate and husband Gary, met nine years ago at a perfume counter. Their whirlwind romance became a strong marriage and welcoming home to their two children, Alexander, 7, and Dorothy, 4. Emily was devoted to Gary and her kids above all and loved to be with them, reading, playing games, and doing crafts. Together the Dades enjoyed trips to Disneyland, Hawaii, San Diego, and Canada, and annual campouts and Christmas get-togethers with their extended family.
Emily was very close to her family, parents Ric and Lori Packard of Oak Harbor; siblings Amanda (and Cory) Bennett, Maggie (and Jake) Liljenquist, and Andrew Packard; and grandma Dorothy Packard, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. One of her greatest joys was being Auntie Em to niece Sophie and nephew Leif and baby boy L.
The Dades moved to Marysville in 2004 after living in Oak Harbor, the San Francisco Bay area, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and Pennsylvania. Everywhere Emily made lasting friendships through moms groups and her love for stamping and card-making. She served as president of the Marysville Moms Club. Her “Tulips” became an amazing support system, throwing a surprise renewal ceremony for Emily and Gary, planting a garden, cooking, cleaning, and doing a million little things to help out.
Emily graduated in 1995 from Hudson Bay High School in Vancouver, Wash., and studied community health and psychology at the University of Rochester in New York. She had hoped someday to become a nurse. She was active in the Northwest Young Survivors Coalition and at Harmony Hill Retreat Center, drawing strength from those who had walked the path before her and mentoring newly diagnosed young women.
Emily kept in touch throughout her illness with an eloquently journaled Web site, signing each message, “Love, Light, and Joy.” When it became clear that Emily’s time was limited, people came from across the country to give her one last hug. She especially appreciated her mom, sisters, Aunt Kathy, and sister-in-law Bridget for their help during this time.
A member of Everett Unity Church, Emily was welcomed home to heaven by her Papa Packard, younger brothers Joseph and Thomas, Aunt Dorothy (Prince), and Grandma and Grandpa D (Densley).
A celebration of Emily’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 22 at the Unity Church, 3231 Colby Ave., Everett. Memorial donations for Dorothy and Alexander’s college fund and Harmony Hill Retreat Center may be made in memory of Emily Dade at any Washington Mutual Bank. Remembrances may also be offered at Emily’s Web site, www.carep
ages.com (search for “TEmilyJDade”).
