Margaret “Gail” Embser, 74, Raleigh, NC passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018 at the North Carolina Heart and Vascular Hospital in Raleigh following a brief illness. She was born June 26, 1943 in Wellsville, NY, the daughter of the late Richard J. and Louise M. (Dunn) Embser.

Gail was a 1961 graduate of Wellsville High School and graduated from Harcum College. As a young wife she worked as an administrative assistant to support her husband and herself as he pursued his college degree. As her family grew, she was a dedicated homemaker and full time mom. Becoming a single mother, she worked hard to nurture and provide for her children as an administrative assistant for groups where her organizational skills were of great benefit and she had a chance to make a positive impact on the community, including UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Durham, and finally at Borden Tolley Real Estate and Appraisal in Durham, where she worked until her retirement.

She enjoyed being active in the community, serving in various organizations such as Welcome Wagon and the Jaynecees. She enjoyed activities such as bridge, golf, racquetball, and skiing, but most of all loved to entertain her wide circle of friends.

She was a fiercely devoted mother and grandmother who considered her family the light of her life. She was always there to cheer on and celebrate her family’s triumphs and was always available when her love and advice was most needed. She was a member of The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh.

She is survived by three children, Lance (Tresa) Pickup, Shannon (Jimmy) Leonida, Danielle (John) Quiocho all of Raleigh, six beloved grandchildren, Alec and Collin Pickup, Kieron and Kennedy Leonida and Cooper and Maximilian Quiocho, two sisters, Linda (George) Lewis of Salem, NY, and Susan Embser of Durham, one brother, John (Diana) Embser of Wellsville, NY, a brother-in-law, Mark Wattenberg of Wellsville, NY, as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and many friends, including Earl Rhoads of Raleigh. She was predeceased in addition to her parents, by a sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Embser and her former husband Dana Pickup. Friends are invited to call on Friday, January 5, 2018, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 W. State Street in Wellsville, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 11:00 am in the Immaculate Conception Church, 36 Maple Avenue in Wellsville. Inurnment will be in the St. Francis Memorial Garden Columbarium following a Memorial Mass on Thursday January 18, 2018, at 3:00pm at the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh, NC. Please consider memorial donations to the American Heart Association. To leave online condolences, please visit embserfuneralhome.com.