Emilie Narr

Emilie Narr passed away peacefully in her Gaithersburg, Maryland home on Thursday, October 24, 2019. She was 83 years old.

Emilie (Emy) was born in Durlach, Germany on September 21, 1936, to Willi & Maria Zorn. She was the third oldest of four sisters. At the age of 20, she traveled to the United States to work as an au pair. While in America, she met Frank Narr, the man she would later marry. After two years abroad, Emy returned to Germany and Frank quickly followed to propose. They returned to the U.S. and married on February 27, 1960.

Emy was a hardworking person from an early age. While her father was serving in the army during World War II, her mother depended on Emy’s help. After the family home was heavily damaged by war bombs, they lived in an underground shelter for nearly a year and traveled only by bicycle. Life was hard, but Emy was always proud of her mother and the care that she gave her family during the very trying times.

After the war and to offer needed assistance to grandparents, Emy’s family moved to the small German village of Hemmendorf. Emy initially attended the village’s one-room schoolhouse; however, she quickly realized that the setting was not for her so she asked her parents if she could make a change. They agreed and she bicycled daily 16 km to/from the city of Rottenburg to attend school. She received an excellent education, which enabled her to get a job with a company that made custom shirts for wounded warriors. She was the office manager and the personal assistant to the owner of the company.

As was the practice at that time, young people would travel to other countries to broaden their life experiences before settling down into a long-term career. Emy did not want to go someplace close to home; rather, she wanted an opportunity to experience something very different. It was this custom and desire that brought Emy to America for the first time. While in the U.S, she worked for a German family in their home and in their diner. During this time, she also attended American University where she took classes to learn English.

Upon returning to America for the second time, Emy resided in Washington D.C, with Frank, where Frank worked and attended George Washington University before he was drafted into the Army. A two-year stint in the Army led Emy and Frank to Huntsville, Alabama. Again, Emy found a job to help the family—making Army boots. Life was hard once again, but Emy would share her fond memories of the time they spent in Huntsville. Alabama was also the birthplace of Emy and Frank’s first child, Sonja. Sonja would always remain her father’s “Southern belle” daughter. Emy & Frank’s second child, Frank, Jr., was born when they returned to Maryland, where Frank, Sr. would work and earn his George Washington degree.

Once back in Maryland, Emy and Frank first lived in Suitland, then in Wheaton and finally settled in Gaithersburg. When Sonja and Frank, Jr. became school age, Emy began volunteering in their school cafeteria. Later, Emy would be hired by Montgomery County Public Schools as a cafeteria worker and soon thereafter as a cafeteria manager—first at Brown Station Elementary School and later at Seneca Valley High School. She worked at Seneca until she retired with over 29 years of service.

Emilie was preceded in death by her parents: Willi & Maria Zorn; her husband: Frank Narr; two sisters: Hildegard & Johanna; two brothers-in-law, Josef & Eugene. She is survived by her daughter Sonja (John) Sienkowski, Frank (Lois) Narr; her grandchildren (to whom she was known as “Oma”) John Matthew, Kayla, Jessica, and Madison; her sister Martha (Jan) Dekker in Holland; and multiple nephews and nieces in Germany, Holland and Austria.

Emy will be missed by many other family members, friends, former co-workers and neighbors. Emy was a loving and giving person. She was always ready and willing to help out when needed.

Emy will be reunited with her best friend and husband, Frank, at a Celebration of Life and Inurnment Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Service date and time will be announced.

Emy spoke many times of the Christmas’s missed by her father during World War II and how the Red Cross made sure that she and her sisters received a note, gift and bar of chocolate from their Dad. Therefore, to honor her, please consider a donation (in memory of Emilie Narr) to the American Red Cross, National Capital Region, 8550 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22031 or donate online at www.redcross.org/dc (Donate/Ways to Donate/Donate in Honor or Memory – Where It Is Needed Most).