Emily Searle Giusti died Feb. 20.

She was born Feb. 8, 1932 to Theresa DeMassi and Luigi Giusti. They had come from Italy to settle in West Warwick, R.I. She was one of 18 children. She grew up in West Warwick, spending most of her time working and playing at the family restaurant, Giusti Cafe.

Emily married James Andrews and moved to the Vineyard. She had three sons, Brad, David, and James and one daughter, Cindy. In 1956, she married Edwin Searle and they had a daughter Lynn. Being a mother and grandmother was her greatest joy.

Emily raised her five children on Sylva Lane in Edgartown. Her door was always open and her kitchen filled with wonderful smells and food for all. She enjoyed her own children as well as the neighborhood gang. She was known as Ma to all her children’s friends.

Emily worked for many years as a chambermaid at the Harborside Inn and at Lawry’s Seafood Restaurant. She moved to Chase Road and enjoyed a steady stream of visitors. Her children and grandchildren and her many friends and extended family were often at the house for coffee and some great conversation. Emily was a good listener and a great friend.

Her friendships continued when she moved to Woodside Village in 1997. She was an avid bingo player. She became close with her neighbors and her door was always open. She was full of love and compassion. Even as her health began to diminish she always had a twinkle in her eye and an open heart. She was proud of her five children, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her children Brad Andrews, David and Joan Andrews, Cindy Maciel, and Lynn and Danny Strem. She was predeceased by both of her husbands, her son in law Joseph Maciel and her son James, although the wife of James, Cindy Andrews, survives her. She was adored by her grandchildren Missy and Taylor Andrews, Marcia Vanderhoop, David And Christi Andrews, Sarah and Matthew Strem, James, Tabitha and Meagan Andrews and their children and families. In Rhode Island she is survived by her brother William Giusti and her sisters Rachael Pruence, Josephine LaChapelle, Louise Petroelli and their families.          

Emily’s funeral mass was celebrated in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Massasoit avenue, Oak Bluffs on Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. Interment followed in the New Westside Cemetery, Edgartown.

Donations may be made in Emily’s memory to her funeral fund at the Bank of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1226, Edgartown MA 02539.