Shrewsbury – Emilie (Emma) Droege passed away tragically at her home in Shrewsbury Friday, May 25, 2018 at 29 years old.
Emma battled opioid addiction for the past ten years, however, she reclaimed her life in recent years as a Resident and then Intern at Adult & Teen Challenge in Providence. In this period, Emma established a personal relationship with the Lord, reconciled with her loving family, and contributed mightily to the recovery of other Residents at Teen Challenge.
Even during her own recovery, Emma positively affected the lives of fellow Residents offering unconditional acceptance and a shoulder to lean on. As an Intern, not only did Emma have significant leadership responsibility for accomplishing daily schedules for those in residence, but she was a primary contact for those seeking admission to TCRI. Most significantly, she nurtured new Residents in the difficult transition to a drug-free life. Her positive impact on the Residents and Staff of Teen Challenge Rhode Island cannot be overstated. Her kindness, joy and devotion can be seen on Emma’s Facebook page and that of Teen Challenge Rhode Island where you can see a life reborn.
Although Emma relapsed in her fight with addiction, she established a beautiful legacy of love and hope for others.
Emma is survived by her parents, Dick and Barbara Droege; her sister, Alyson Droege; her husband, Peter Hyzak; her maternal grandfather, Floyd Smith; her paternal grandmother, Eleanor Droege of Sun City, Fla.; her uncle, Jeff and wife Linda Smith of Beaufort, N.C.; Aunt Sunni and husband Michael Martin of Denmark, Maine; cousins Thomas and Kyla; and her spiritual parents, Jack and Susan Hyzak of Westborough.
Relatives and friends are respectfully to invited to attend her visiting hour Thursday, May 31, from 4-8 p.m., at the Chiampa Funeral Home ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center. A Memorial Service celebrating Emma’s life will be held Friday, June 1, at 10 a.m., at Grace Baptist Church, 353 River Rd., Hudson. Burial will be held at a later date with extended family in Sandy Point, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Teen Challenge Rhode Island through their website, www.tcrhodeisland.org, or via mail at 572 Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI 02907.
