Emberleigh Ann Farace, Littlestown, PA, passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Hershey Medical Center.
The following was written by Emberleigh’s father as a tribute to her life.
Emberleigh Ann Farace came crashing into this world on her own schedule, and that set the precedent for how she would live her life. In just one short month, this beautiful little girl stole the hearts of thousands. We knew some of what she was coming into this world with, and we never once even considered loving her any less. We were scared, but all we wanted to show her was a life full of love. She had our hearts from the moment we knew we were pregnant. She was an answered prayer after fearing the traumatic pregnancy we had with Briar left us unable to have kids anymore. Emberleigh was the answer to all of that. She was going to be our bundle of joy, our greatest adventure, but we were ready. She was all of those things when she came.
Emberleigh was only here a short time, but she lit up the room. She quickly stole the heart of her siblings, her family, her nurses, and just about anyone else. She will remain in our hearts forever. To those who know me, know I don’t do well with feelings, but I love to find music that expresses my feelings. A line that has lived in my mind this last week is “I’ll never have to say goodbye, I’ll live in the hearts I leave behind”. And by God, if that’s not the truest statement about sweet “baby Emmy”. She will live on forever in the hearts she’s leaving behind. She will live in our hearts forever. She will be our protector, our fighter, our angel. She will be a story of perseverance, of strength, of love. Another quote that sticks with me is “Should never have to watch as your own children are lowered in the ground, I mean, never have to bury your own baby” -Dave Matthews. At 11:12 this morning, Emberleigh did go home surrounded by family and friends. She got her fresh air. She took her final breaths outside, tasting that sweet sweet outside air, instead of that stuffy hospital air, in the arms of her mama and I.
We aren’t okay. We won’t be okay. We have to explain to Emberleigh’s brother and sister that baby Emmy isn’t coming home. We have to go on with life, missing our youngest. Our “party of 5” has gone back to a party of 4. We will sit in the coming weeks and stare at unopened boxes of items that will never be used by Emberleigh. A bassinet, clothes, bottles, toys. We will make a momento box, we will have an urn containing one of the three children we would have laid our own lives down, and we will celebrate her short but powerful life. But we won’t be okay. Nothing will ever fill the void left by her. Not another kid, not a vacation, not moving away from here, not a plot in the ground. Nothing. No words will ever heal what has been lost.
When I drove up to Hershey as Mikayla was in labor, I had “with arms wide open” on repeat. All I wanted to do was show her everything. And knowing I can’t is something that I won’t ever heal. My baby girl deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt.
To everyone who has supported us, loved on Emberleigh, and prayed through this, thank you. Our little miss knew nothing but love. Her time here was short, but was it ever sweet. If love alone could have healed her, God knows she’d outlive all of us.
Hold onto your babies, as we will do in the coming days with our older babies. Love on them. Tell them how thankful you are for them. Being a parent is a privilege. Having the joy and love of a child is something that can be taken much too quickly. Don’t forget how lucky you are to know the endless love of a child. Emberleigh’s legacy will outlive us all, drawing us closer, reminding us how pure love is, and breathing life into us.
Emberleigh is survived by her parents, Tyler Farace and Mikayla Shank of Littlestown, a sister, Oaklyn Farace and a brother, Briar Farace, maternal grandmother, Deborah Scott, maternal grandfather, Dean Shank and his companion Cheryl Gricks, maternal great grandparents, Kenneth and Carol Shank and maternal great grandmother, Beverly Scott, paternal grandparents, Joshua and Jamie Farace, paternal great grandparents, Chad and Karen Farace and Jim and Nancy Holler, paternal great great grandparents, Anthony and Myra Farace, Charles and Bernice Stitley.
A Memorial service will be held Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 1:30 PM at Wellspring Wesleyan Church, 127 Hickory Lane, Hanover, PA. Flowers will be accepted and appreciated. The family requests that those attending wear light colors, as they want this to be a celebration of her life, not a somber moment.
If you’d like to help offset the costs of her service, medical bills, or any other costs this traumatic time has caused, there is a link included.
https://gofund.me/098edc05
Online obituary and condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com.