Emily Marie Gibney lost her fight for life on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Lake Ridge.

She was born to Guido O. Groebe and Emily T. Groebe on July 14, 1923, in Interlaken, N.J.

Emily grew up an only child and attended high school at House in the Pines in Norton, Mass., then earned her college degrees from Ogontz School in Philadelphia and then at Katharine Gibbs School in New York City. At all her schools, she was honored as the valedictorian graduate.

Emily loved English, history and animals, especially cats. She also was an avid reader and loved gourmet cooking. She was always donating money to the ASPCA. After college Emily started working at the Museum of National History in New York before going to the Pentagon and working for the Army.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory daughter Sherie Ann Wheaton and her two sons, Dana and Kelley; daughter Vicki Lynn Spriggs, her husband, William, and her two children, Suzie and Cindy; daughter Emily Allison Baumgartner and her husband, Dan Baumgartner; son Henderson Reeves III; and daughter Denise Marie Saxon and her children, Nicole and Michelle. She also leaves five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marne Gibney.

A funeral will be held at noon, Saturday, March 2, at Mount Comfort Cemetery in Alexandria. The procession to the cemetery will begin at 11 a.m. from Miller Funeral Home in Woodbridge.

Flowers may be sent by 10:30 a.m. to Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 S. Kings Highway, Alexandria, Va. 22306; or memorial donations may be made in her honor to the ASPCA.