Obituary of Emilia "Emily" Colaguori

Emilia “Emily” Colaguori, 96, of West Long Branch, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 7^th at her home, surrounded by family.

Born in Passaic, NJ, she grew up in Englishtown on a farm. Emily had five siblings and was the last surviving child born to Polish immigrants Walter & Bertha Ham. She was a proud 1944 graduate of Monmouth Memorial Hospital Nursing program and served her country honorably during WWII in the US Army, attaining the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant in the Army Nursing Corp. Emily moved to West Long Branch in 1952 with her husband, Frank, where they raised a family.

Retiring at the age of 70, Emily was a Registered Nurse at Monmouth Medical Center where she worked as a Private Duty Nurse. Even as a retiree, her mentality was ‘once a nurse, always a nurse’, caring for others was her passion. She was a parishioner at St. Jerome RC Church, West Long Branch. An avid golfer, Emily was a member of Suneagles Golf Club, Ft. Monmouth.  She enjoyed card games, especially Bridge, knitting, and crocheting.  Emily made and donated many blankets to Birthright. She also loved going for walks, especially on the boardwalk with friends.

Always looking for a good time, Emily loved traveling and made frequent trips to Atlantic City, making her no stranger to the craps table, where she loved to roll the die. She truly enjoyed cooking for her family. Emily never put herself first; her family was the center of her life.

Emily was predeceased by her son, Mark in 1966. Surviving is her husband of 68 years, Frank; her daughters & son-in-law, Cynthia Brimer, Birmingham. AL and Lynn & James Gannon, West Long Branch; her grandchildren Adam & Carly Brimer, Emily & Jason Vest, Brielle & Casey Parent, Rocco Gannon and Frank Gannon and her great grandson Jay Parker Brimer.

Memorial service will be Saturday March 30^th at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch, from 1-3PM. In honor of Emily, her family asks that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.  For messages of condolence, please visit Emily’s page of tributes at www.woolleyboglioli.com.