Emily Shifflet (1995-2023)

Emily Shifflet, age 27, of West Hanover Twp, was born to Robert and Jane (Jenny) Shifflet on August 19th, 1995 and passed away on March 11th, 2023. After being diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at three, a rare neurological disorder that impairs her ability to speak and move, Emily never let that hold her back from vibrant life, leaving a lasting impact on everyone she met. A 2014 graduate of Central Dauphin High School, Emily was a social butterfly and involved in various activities including Girl Scouts, attending Aaron's Acres summer camp, enjoying music therapy, weekly yoga classes, Ice Skating with the Wheels on Ice Skating Club, cheering on the Hershey Bears and was always excited to attend a rambunctious family gathering. She has been involved with the "Patient as Teachers" program at the Penn State Hershey Med Center since 2010, where she taught first-year medical students about her life with a chronic illness. Using Tobii, an eye-tracking communication device, Emily began an art career as the Eye Gaze Artist where she controlled a cursor with eye movements to convey her thoughts and paint dynamic abstract pieces. She used her artwork to raise awareness about Rett Syndrome, selling her paintings to raise funds for Rett Syndrome research. Emily's artwork was part of a rotating art exhibit sponsored by Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center's program Center Stage, ARC of Dauphin County, Lebanon Family Health Services, Cocoa Beanery, and other venues. In addition to her parents, Bob and Jenny, Emily is survived by a sister, Laura Shifflet; Aunts and Uncles, Russell Shifflet, Marion and Doug Pearl; Susan and Jeff Reuscher; Nancy Shifflet, and Linda Shifflet; and numerous cousins, nurses and therapist. Emily was preceded in death by her grandparents, Otto and Gladys Shifflet, David and Mary Murphy, and Uncle Richard Shifflet Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, March 17, 2023, at 11 AM in St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Avenue, Hershey, with The Rev. Fr. Alfred P. Sceski, as celebrant. Interment will be in the Hanoverdale Cemetery.