Fayetteville- Emerson Jean “Emmi” Barbaro,10, of 151 Ellerslie Dr., Fayetteville, NC died Thursday December 27, 2012, while sledding with her best friend and brother, Julian, and her two cousins, at their grandparents home in Dassel, MN. She is survived by her mother and father, Heather and Richard Barbaro; her 5 brothers: Ryan of Dexter, Michigan (his wife, Devon and children Andrew, Dane, Mae, Nora); Justin of Fayetteville (his fiancée, Callie); Brandon of Chapel Hill; Colin of Chapel Hill (his fiancée, Lauren); and Julian of Fayetteville. She is also survived by her grandparents, Barb and Craig Kay of Dassel, MN; Great grandparents, Orval and Alice Lea of Rushford, MN; Aunt Pamela and Uncle Eric Sandstede of Dassel, MN; Aunt Carrie and Uncle Joel Harmala, and cousins Greta, Ryan, and Darby of Pequot Lakes, MN; Aunt Leah Kay of Duluth, MN (her friend Michael Clark); Aunt Jeanette Bratti of Wantaugh, NY; Aunt Kathy and Uncle Charles Prentice of Inverness, FL.
Emmi only lived 10 short years, yet she touched the lives of many. She loved Jesus and she loved life! She woke up every day with a smile on her face and joy in her heart. She was a great soccer player for the Fayetteville Force; ran several 5K races; completed 2 triathlons; and loved to swim, tumble, and flip. She dreamed of competing in the Olympics one day; loved to sing; believed in Santa Claus; and savored the good in all people. She conquered her small world with luminous laughter and boundless energy. She was never ready for bed, but always the first one up to start a new day. There were few things that Emmi wasn’t truly good at. She welcomed any challenge with relentless determination. She was never afraid of defeat and win or lose, the result was always the same… a beaming smile from ear to ear. Her small frame carried a big personality and an even bigger heart.
Unfortunately, a tragic accident ended her life here on this earth. She now sings and plays for Our Lord in Heaven. We miss her so very much!
A celebration of life will be held at Manna Church (5117 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville, NC 28314) on Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at 6p.m. preceded by visitation from, 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the same location. Visitation will also be held on Thursday night, January 3, 2013, at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home from 6p.m. until 8 p.m.
Emmi had been trying to raise money for the American Heart Association. She would attend Julian's basketball games with her own handmade sign in the lobby in hopes of raising money. She was going to Jump Rope for Heart at her school Fayetteville Academy.
In the near future, we will be organizing an athletic event to honor Emmi.
We miss her terribly, but we know that we will see her again one day.
