Emma Leilani Judy Bennetts Holmes

Emma Leilani Judy Bennetts Holmes passed away at home in her parents’ arms on October 29, 2025, in Fort Collins, Colorado, from acute myeloid leukemia.  We were so very fortunate to have her for 23 years.

 

Emma was the great-granddaughter of the late Clark Henry Judy, Sr. of Harmony, and Lillian (Furbish Judy Gisenas) and Melvin Goddard of Beaver.  She was the great-grandniece of Elrina (Furbish Block) Thompson of Crivitz, of Robert D. Judy of Peshtigo, and of many other Judy great-aunts, uncles, and cousins throughout Marinette and Oconto Counties, Wisconsin, and the U.P.

 

 

Emma was born with a full head of red hair on May 28, 2002, in Seattle, Washington, by emergency c-section when she had no heartbeat or movement on her due date.  After a week, she was taken off life support with the tenuous goal of making it home to die, but despite physical and cognitive impediments, she survived and thrived.  Two weeks before passing, a genetic study finally showed that those impediments were due to mRNA splicing issues.

 

Emma was a happy, jolly girl with an infectious giggle and big belly laugh.  She woke up every single morning with a smile, even in her last months when she was in great pain.  She loved to kick her legs in her bouncy chairs and rock them until the frames snapped.  She loved going on walks, playing with musical and spinning toys, and swimming, which she began as a baby. 

 

Most of all, Emma loved music and listened to it continually – children’s songs, old-time ballads, and patriotic music .  She loved songs recorded by her mom and adoptive dad into her toys.  Emma also loved funny noises and sound effects, and delighted in being told “YAY for Emma! Yay yay yay!”

 

Emma craved routine and consistency, and would let you know if you varied.  She loved standing in her stander and playing with toys, tearing it up in her beloved jungle gym, swimming, attending therapy (usually), walking in her gait trainer, riding in her bike trailer, and doing adapted horse riding.  Emma loved bathtime, towel time, and her bedtime routine.  After an hour of cuddling she would sign “Good night,” “I love you,” and “You’re cute.”

 

Emma visited her family in northern Wisconsin often. Her grandparents, Clark and Karen Judy, used to have a cabin on Reader Laker.  She travelled across the U.S. and to Alaska, Canada, and Asia, traveling in small boats, cruise ships, ferries, trains, subways, planes, taxis, RVs, and OTVs.  She loved motion and delighted in airplane turbulence, earthquakes, and sudden braking. 

 

Emma loved being outside and squealed in joy in a good downpour.  She loved walking along the beach.  Wild animals were drawn to her, with deer, foxes, and even bear and bison trekking right up to her all the time.  She once had a seizure outside at night, and a doe came up and touched noses with her.  For 24 hours before Emma died, a great horned owl came in the yard and hooted mournfully.

 

Emma was silly, spunky, sassy, snarky, sly, stubborn, and smart, so very smart.  She understood a great deal and would lift her left arm to say “yes” or “more,” and right arm to say “no.”  She communicated with nuanced vocalizations and insisted on “talking” on the phone with her mom and adoptive dad if they were gone.  She tried to get therapists to play the “I’m/You’re cute” game instead of exercising.  Emma loved to explore by chewing on things and pushing things onto the floor. 

 

By the time Emma turned 17, she started to get very tired and her health inexplicably declined.  A biopsy showed that she had bone marrow failure.  When Emma was 20, the family moved into a new house with a ceiling track system, and she loved running around in a harness like a typical kid.  She was a regular on the pathway systems, taking long daily walks with her dog.  But the bone marrow failure converted to myelodysplastic syndrome, which converted to leukemia, and by the time Emma turned 23, she wanted cuddles and sleep instead of therapy.  She was so brave and tough and courageous.

 

Emma was a very special human being, whose passing leaves an unimaginable void for her mom, Heather Marie Judy (Holmes) Bennetts and her adoptive step-dad, Steven Anthony Bennetts;  they loved Emma more than life.  She will be met on the other side by sister Brandy Bennetts.

 

Emma’s biological father was Stephen G. Holmes and her little half-brother was TeJay Holmes. She was embraced by the extended Bennetts clan when she was adopted, and will be greatly missed by brother Nicklas (Neoma) Bennetts and family.

 

Emma’s grandparents were Clark H. Judy and Karen K. Hosick Judy, Carole J. Hildebrand, and Michael (Kristine) Holmes, all of Colorado;  her uncles and aunts were Brad D. Judy, Amy C. Sullivan, David (Stacy) Holmes, Christine (Brian) Fessenden.

 

Thank you to everyone who touched Emma’s life every day.  Please know that your presence DID make a difference and was greatly appreciated, whether a greeting directly to Emma, a smile at the store or an opened door; making room for Emma when she tagged along, or a kind word or inquiry.  These acts of kindness and inclusion were so very important to us.

 

In lieu of donations to a charity, please take time to directly support disadvantaged children and their families by anonymously paying student lunch bills, medical bills, utility bills, any bills.  Make an effort to include kids who are different or from chaotic homes.   Befriend a special adult.  Send an anonymous gift to single parents of special children, who may never receive a Mother’s Day bouquet or Father’s Day socks.  Volunteer with disadvantaged children and special needs adults.  Practice the A’s that made such a difference in Emma’s life:  ask, allow, accommodate, and acknowledge. 

 

Emma was cremated and her ashes will be scattered in the ocean that she loved to walk along.  A memorial marker may be placed at Peshtigo Riverside Cemetery.  In lieu of a service, a memorial video will be shared later on.  Condolences may be sent directly to her family at 3132 Chase Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 or in care of Goes Funeral Home of Fort Collins.