Emily Maureen Carroll came into this world on a windy and cool 40-something degree morning on November 9, 1984. Emily crossed over to her next adventure on a windy and cool 40-something degree evening on January 14, 2022.

Emily was the youngest daughter of Patricia (Gillis) Carroll and Dennis Carroll of Abington and the apple of their eye. Their immense love for Emily was only rivaled by their deep pride in her commitment to fight for her country, and her later commitment to battle the struggle she fought within herself. Emily was my younger sister, my name is Meaghan (Carroll) Rateau, and she was sister-in-law to my husband Carl Rateau of Quincy. Twins sometimes speak of an indescribable bond between them-perpetually connected and in tune with one another's feelings and emotion despite any distance and circumstance. There may have been 4 years between us, but our bond was always much more reminiscent of twins than merely sisters.

Our late grandfather, Jim Gillis had a well-known refrain, one he would use at every holiday, celebration, graduation, birth, death…and even on a random afternoon when there was nothing at all of note to celebrate, aside from the gift of the day itself:

"What do people do without family?"

Well, Emily never had to worry about that. Emily grew up surrounded with love, laughter, guidance, and support by the dozens. Emily leaves her aunts and uncles, James, Maureen, John, Michael, Jackie, Kathy, Paul, Judy, Bernie, Shawn, Mary, Fredy, Warren and Michelle.

I read somewhere once that cousins are our first friends. Ours certainly were, and we've all remained friends in adulthood. On the Carroll side, Emily was the youngest cousin, and even after she joined the military and could decidedly kick all our butts, we still all looked at her as our youngest 'sister'. Emily loved her cousins deeply, each and every one of them: Scott, Maura, Shannon, Matt, Kendra, Jason, David, Shannan, Liz, Pete, Kristin, Jay, Erin, Kevin, Eric, Kerri, Katie, Ben, Brendan, Cassie, Mickey, Chrissy, Adam, Charlotte, Patrick, Jessica, Diana, Vinny Ingrid and Emilia.

Emily was predeceased by some pretty exuberant, funny, wacky and amazing humans: Her grandparents, her Aunts Kathy and Nancy and her Uncle Dave. I must say I am jealous of the fun that is most-definitely being had at their celestial reunion. Rounds of 'chubby bunny' and the 'bag game', Grampy Gillis doing magic tricks around a giant fire pit, Uncle Dave and Emily sharing a Diet Coke and finally being able to swap their military stories, among other shenanigans.

Emily joined the military in 2005. She was incredibly proud of the work she was able to do in Civil Affairs. She chose this particular MOS (for the civilians in the house - that means job in 'army') because it allowed her to specifically work in places that needed to be rebuilt and/or needed support due to the aftermath of war. She helped women and children, she was a liaison with village elders to help get what was needed, she helped rebuild a school once. She made a difference for so many in and out of uniform. I am confident she had no idea how far the ripple effect of her light extended in this world. Emily was proud of, and grateful for the connections with her in-country counterparts. She felt very strongly that the United States was failing our commitment to support those who supported her and countless others. A way to honor Emily: Please do what you can to learn about, and advocate for in-country comrades and informants who kept her and others safe and had her back each and every day she was out of the FOB.

Emily truly loved her time in the Army and was proud of so many things that she did while serving. Emily was pretty open, especially the last few years, about her struggles with PTSD and alcohol. In her last year and half on this earth Emily found sobriety, and in her sobriety found purpose in using her experience to help others. She became a Certified Peer Specialist, and shared with me her future goals around creating an outlet for female soldiers and veterans who are struggling. Particularly soldiers and veterans who have experienced sexual harassment and/or assault while serving in the United States Military. Sexual assult of both men and women in the military has been far too long been swept aside. It is time to shine light on this unacceptable problem. Shine light for Emily, because that is what she had planned to do if she had not been taken so soon. Women and men who do come forward risk their career and additional harassment. Emily didn't come forward all those years ago, she didn't want any other soldiers to go through what she did, which was silently navigate the unimaginable for years.

Emily could pick up anything and be good at it. She graduated from Cordon Bleu pastry school,  and truly had a passion for creating delicious delights. She would drive past our house on her way home from school, and at least once a week I would find she dropped off a tray of macaroons, or discover a three layer cake in our refrigerator. We were honored to eat her homework and although I'm pretty sure we both ate our weight in butter- it was well worth it.

Emily loved art. She was truly an artist at heart and from the time her chubby little hand had the dexterity to grip, she was drawing. She loved music. From Grateful Dead, to Vivaldi, to Major Lazer (a favorite in Iraq) to the Supremes, to Biggie, to Sara Mclaughlin ….she loved it all. Emily loved twice baked potatoes, steak, homemade pasta, apple picking, petting random dogs, Mystery Science Theater 3000, sunsets, Disney World, holidays, the beach, and the smell of Bell's seasoning and how it reminded her of our mother. I learned about Bell's seasoning just recently via a text on January 2nd, I was still learning new things about her up to the end. Time is a gift and we are all grateful for our time with Emily.

To honor Emily, please consider learning more about the issues she felt passionately about and/or donating to the following organizations:

Protect Our Defenders (POD) is the pre-eminent national human rights organization dedicated to ending sexual violence, victim retaliation, misogyny, sexual prejudice, and racism in the military and combating a culture that has allowed it to persist. Protect Our Defenders

No One Left Behind is the only nation-wide association of wartime allies in the US dedicated to ensuring that America keeps its promise to our interpreters from Iraq and Afghanistan. These brave men and women served right alongside US military and government personnel, and in many cases, directly saved American lives. Our vision is to see that each wartime ally is honored for his or her courageous service.  We want their families to achieve the American Dream. No One Left Behind

Visiting hours will be on Sunday January 23, 2022 at Quealy and Sons Funeral Home at 116 Adams Street, Abington, MA 02351 from 2pm to 6pm, Tel: 1-781-878-2112 All are welcome to come say a final goodbye to our Emily.

Emily will be cremated and interred at the National Military Cemetery in Bourne Massachusetts at a later date. Interment ceremonies will be limited to close friends and family.