Emily Catherine Metzger

On the 14th of August 1985, Emily Catherine Metzger was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Brenda Wright and Michael Metzger.

Her brother, Christopher Metzger, joined their parents into welcoming her home.  Emily lived in Mansfield and Rendon Texas during her early childhood. She moved to Maryland in 1992 when her mother married Al Soskin.  With new brothers, Keith and Jeffery, and a bevy of childhood friends, Emily loved her new life.  In Texas, she was blessed with two more brothers, Adam and Sam Metzger.  She relished her role as the “only girl” in her family and basked in the love and protection of her brothers.  

She loved her Texas roots and spent summers at her grandparents’ home; a homestead she loved her whole life.  In adulthood, she took to the Wright family tradition of drinking coffee and watching the sunrise from Meemaw and PeePaw’s expansive porch.  Her time spent there solidified her sisterly relationship with her cousin, Carrie “Kiki”.  She auditioned and was accepted at Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson Maryland.  She graduated from there in 2003 and followed her heart and love of the theatre to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to attend Point Park University.  There she met many lifelong friends. She graduated Magma Cum Laude with a Bachelor of the Arts in Theatre Studies in 2007.

After graduation, Emily began her career in Restaurant Hospitality. She worked at establishments in the Strip District, Downtown Pittsburgh, and the North Shore. Emily’s energy, charisma, and intelligence helped her progress quickly and vertically in the industry. When Emily moved into management positions, she had the chance to leave her mark. At Burn by Rocky Patel, Emily hand-laid down one of the most beautiful Penny Bars ever created. As of today, it’s still available to see and worth the pilgrimage to honor Emily. Her birth year penny can be found near the only Steel Penny on the main bar. After Burn, Emily took a position at Sullivan’s Steakhouse as their Sales and Event manager, building her reputation further as one of the finest, if not the best, event planners in the city of Pittsburgh.  Her last post was Director of Sales at Puttery.

During her time moving up the ladder in the service industry, she met the love of her life, Bill (William Marshall) Esch. From phone calls, to hanging out a lot, they fell in love and kept this love a secret for 6 months before telling any coworkers. Theirs was a deep and enduring love, for each other and their beloved “Fuzzy Butts.” Emily brought a 2-year-old Cairn Terrier, Marvella Beatrice, into the relationship telling Bill that she and Marvy Bee were a “Package Deal”. At the time, Bill had two cats, Mushu Endo and Alkaline Baby Boy, both aged 5 years. The cats were not thrilled about “the beast” moving in, though eventually peace was bridged between the Fuzzies.

Through her relationship with Bill, Emily became a cat mom. Already a veteran dog owner and animal lover, she was ecstatic to have her boys. The cats (and Bill), much like everyone else who met her, loved her madly. 

Emily was fiercely independent, and a super heroine in her own class. She loved to tell the story of how Bill passed out when their third cat, Shadow, gave birth to 4 kittens after they rescued her a mere 60 days prior. While he swooned during the birth, Emily rolled up her sleeves and delivered the kitties and cared for mama Shadow.  Now Emily was a Cat Grammy to Autumn, Winter, Igby, and Brody.  A heroine, indeed. Ever Bill’s constant, Emily made Bill even happier than she already had in their previous nine years together; she said yes to his proposal of marriage and accepted Bill’s great-grandmother’s 25th anniversary ring crafted in the 1920s. This ring was very special for her as it championed some of her favorite things: antiques, nostalgia, and family.

Emily and Bill’s engagement was short-lived when Emily was diagnosed with cancer in 2025. They were already grieving the loss of sweet Marvy Bee and now with her own health crisis, Emily convinced Bill that she needed a puppy for her emotional well-being, and she found the last love of her life, Drax the Destroyer. A Cairn Terrier Schnauzer mix who instantly melted their hearts. 

Emily fought so very hard to beat cancer. She endured intense treatment, which she referred to as “torture”, all while continuing to work full time. She worked until she absolutely could not, dedicated as she was to her profession and to building a life with Bill. Emily was one of the strongest people on the planet. She fought harder than most humans could, and harder than any human should have to. Emily was beautiful, by every standard, on the outside. And her inside beauty – incredible, astounding, something for all who loved her to remember and aspire to.

Emily passed away at home on June 8, 2026, surrounded by her fiancé, Bill, and loving family. 

She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Paul Wright Jr & Lorene (Settlemire), her uncle, Roger Wright, and her brothers Keith Soskin and Jeffrey Soskin; her paternal grandparents, Hans and Inge Bach, and aunt, Deborah Bach Avans.

Emily is survived by her Beloved Bill (William Marshall) Esch; his parents, Ken and Lorrie Esch;  parents Brenda (Wright) & Alan Soskin, and father Michael Metzger;  brothers Christopher (Lieschen) Metzger, Sam (Ally) Metzger, Adam (Shannon) Metzger, Bill’s Brothers: Matthew (Angela) Esch, Thomas (Krystle Balhan) Esch; Aunts Paula Stewart, Donna Bach Roberson; Uncle Jim Wright; Cousins: Brad Stewart, Shelly Ratliff, Carrie (Shawn) Moore, Katie Swain, and Eva Avans, Annalise, and KJ; Nephews and Nieces:  Tommy (Ashley) , Reed, Brinley, Kinsley Soskin, Zachary and Kathryn Esch, Riley and Ricky Moore, Phoebe and Pearl Metzger, Kelsey, Sam and Lauren Soskin, June Balhan-Esch, Violet Metzger, Dylan and Kaitlyn Isner and  Grayson Soskin.

There will be a celebration of life for Emily on a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family would gratefully accept contributions to her GoFundMe for medical and final expenses

 Https://gofund.me/82a25fc4d

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