Emaline Lily Hobbs

Emaline Lily Hobbs, “Emi”, age 8, of Sylvania, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 11, 2023. Emi was welcomed into this world on June 27, 2015, her dad’s birthday, to her loving parents, Benjamin Hobbs and Brie (Warnock) Hobbs. She instantly became the spunkiest, most special baby sister to her big sister and best friend, her boo boo bear, Adi. She was the perfect baby from the beginning and smiled with her whole face with her crazy hair.

Emi was magical, truly a unicorn in every way. Abnormally cute and prone to push boundaries and buttons, everyone who knew Emi understood that she was ultimately in charge of the show and had no fear. She had a shining light within her that could not be dimmed and was always the most hilarious person in the room. She was smart, silly, sassy, brutally honest (especially if you had bad breath) and able to make anyone laugh with her keen wit, funny faces, contagious smiles, and adorable sporty little body. She was physically strong, coordinated and taught herself to be an acrobat. Emi enjoyed learning new things on her own, nourishing what her clever mind craved. Emi loved music, danced like nobody was watching, and could swim like an otter. She was wild, bold, and fearless, in the words of her godmother, Andrea.

Emi was a girly girl, who loved glitter, makeup and nail polish, putting dresses and bows on all her stuffed buddies, but also loved to play in the dirt with bugs. She loved to run around in the rain, finding toads and digging up worms. She loved everything and everyone loved her. She loved to go camping, have sleepovers, celebrate birthday parties and the holidays. Her loud and boisterous presence will forever be missed from the family girls’ night, but her memories and impact are certain to be everlasting.

Emi was an animal whisperer, like a Disney princess, drawing creatures of all kinds to her. She and her sister raised and released hundreds of butterflies with their mom every summer, they were always outside. She loved dogs, and was adored by hers, Moose and Jasper, and slept with her Cuddle Puppy every night. She and Adi were obsessed with seals and sea lions and took their little Sealia everywhere. She loved deer, and watching their growing little families around Lourdes, they were drawn to her too. The little one who would always walk towards her, she named Curious.

She had the most beautiful instinct to play mommy and nurse, always tending to boo-boo's and caring for babies. Her teachers loved how she asked them how their day was going and if they liked their lunch every day, they loved how she cared. Emi profoundly impacted everyone she met during her short life.

All Emi wanted in the world this past year was a Chinchilla, so when she and Adi were gifted a pair this past spring, she was over the moon, and was never again seen at home without one in her hands, hiding in her shirt or under a blanket. Whiskers has her spunky little personality, and her baby girl, Wiggles brought her so much joy after the devastating loss off Fluffy over the summer. One of the few comforts in losing Emi is knowing she’s with Fluffy again.

To the family, friends, and community that her loss will impact, thank you for loving this little girl and for being a part of her joyous and extraordinary life. May we all be better off for having known her and carry her bright, shining light within us for the rest of our days. Her zeal for life was simply unparalleled. Emi’s final act of kindness was the gift of donating her kidneys, and a successful transplant has already taken place with a recipient match. Another life is brighter because of Emi Hobbs.

Left to cherish Emi’s memory are her parents, Benjamin and Brie Hobbs; sister, Adi Hobbs (age 11); grandparents, Karen and Roger Warnock, and Roberta Hobbs; aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless loved ones and friends from school. Her grandfather Dave Huckels and Ben’s father Gregory Hobbs preceded Emi in death.

All are welcome to pay their respects to the family on Sunday, December 17, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Avenue (west of Corey Road). Services to honor and celebrate Emi’s life will begin at 11:00 a.m., Monday December 18, 2023.

Donations are suggested in lieu of flowers and can be made to her Go Fund Me page at, Fundraiser by Jamie Armstrong : Donate in Honor of Emi Hobbs - Memorial Fund (gofundme.com).