Emma Herlihy

Emma Herlihy, 93, of Holmdel, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2024. She was born in Whitestone, Queens, NY and was always proud to be a "Whitestone Girl". She lived on Long Island most of her life before moving to Holmdel in 2002. Emma was initially a homemaker and along with her late husband Kevin raised 4 children. She then held a number of positions at different companies, including being the office manager for R & R Stamps, an officer of the ASDA and in her later years doing the bookkeeping for the LuEster Mertz Foundation. She adored her grand and great grandchildren and will forever be remembered as their loving Meems. Until recently, Emma hosted every Christmas Eve at her house, taking joy in her ever growing family.
Emma was blessed with an incredible memory; she would tell stories of events as far back as her early childhood in amazing detail. She shared stories of growing up during the Great Depression and her father not having a steady job for years - taking whatever odd job he could find to put food on the table but somehow finding the money to surprise her with a new party dress. She would tell the tale of the horrific day when she was 12 when there was a knock on the door and there stood a messenger delivering the telegram that her beloved older brother Bill's plane had been shot down over Germany. Emma also enjoyed telling stories of high school and sailing dates with the love of her life, future husband Kevin. As a hobby, Emma spent a number of years researching her family genealogy through numerous online resources, tracing her roots back 14 generations all the way to the Mayflower voyage.
Surviving are her two sons, Joseph (Laurie) Herlihy and Micheal (Susan) Herlihy, grandchildren Jessica Holly, Lindsay Powers, Suzanne Reddy, Kevin Herlihy, Sean Herlihy and Colleen Herlihy as well as 7 great grandchildren.
Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Francis Kevin Herlihy; son, William Herlihy; daughter, Jacqueline Herlihy; five siblings and her parents Henry and Helen Jaeger.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown.
Private internment for family members will be in the early Fall.
In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution in Emma's name to Lunch Break of Red Bank or Feeding America.