Emily Hart Henderson

April 13, 1994- June 4, 2018

When Emily Hart Henderson of Dallas reached the end of her battle with neuroblastoma June 4, 2018, at age 24, she was surrounded by family and friends, which is how she lived her life. Emily’s enthusiasm and joy were contagious and earned her lifelong friends from elementary school at St. Rita; high school at Bishop Lynch (Class of 2012); and college at UT San Antonio, UT Austin, and University of North Texas.

She committed fully to everything she did, including a variety of sports, piano, Girl Scouts, cheerleading, and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. When she had to leave Austin and return to Dallas for treatment, Emily continued working toward her degree in special education. She proved her strength and courage throughout her three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Her resolve to regain her health while maintaining a positive outlook was an inspiration to friends and family.

Emily is survived by her parents, Jan and Bruce Henderson of Dallas, and sisters Julia, of Austin, and Sarah and Hanna of Dallas. She is also survived by her maternal grandparents, Joe and Lea Ellis of Houston; Uncle Plez Henderson (Lori) and Aunt Kay Bowman (Jolyon), and Aunt Melissa Nix Henderson of Tyler; Aunt Teri McAfee (Mike), Aunt Kim McConn (Terry), Aunt Carol Sebastian, Uncle Mark Ellis (Vicki), and Uncle John Ellis (Vanessa) of Houston. Emily was preceded in death by her unborn sister, Grace; paternal grandparents, Rita and Bill Henderson, and her uncle, David Henderson, of Tyler. She is survived by paternal first cousins Carson Henderson; Bryce Harvey; Will, Ben, and Sam Bowman; and Joshua Henderson; as well as maternal first cousins Ashley, Katie, Michael, and Molly McAfee; Ellis (Lauren), Terrance, and Justin McConn; Samantha and Kimberly Sebastian; and Grace, Collier, and Carolina Ellis.

The family is grateful to all the doctors, nurses, and caregivers that supported Emily in her battle against cancer: specialists at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, UTSW Dallas, The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Medical City of Dallas. Special thanks are extended to Emily’s oncologist Tanya Watt, MD, and her team of caring nurses and staff at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.

Emily loved children and looked forward to becoming a special education teacher so she could help them reach their full potential and overcome any obstacles in their path. She saw this same commitment to improving the lives of children in the child-life focus at Children’s Medical Center, so in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Emily’s memory directed to The Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Health at www.childrens.com/give or by mail to Children’s Medical Center Foundation, 2777 Stemmons Fwy., Ste. 700, Dallas TX, 75207.

Emily’s life will be celebrated with a memorial Mass at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, TX, followed by a reception on campus for family and friends. Her family invites you to incorporate purple, Emily’s favorite color, into your attire.

Messages or memories are welcomed at www.calvaryhilldallas.com.