GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WUSA9) -- A vigil was held
for a mother and her two young children who were killed when a plane crashed into their home.
Marie Gemmell was 36, her son Cole was three and her son Devin was six weeks. Mourners gathered at the site of the deadly crash on Drop Forge Lane in Gaithersburg Friday evening to remember them.
The Roy W. Barber Funeral Home posted an obituary:
On December 8, 2014, a tragic event took the lives of Marie Gemmell, Cole Gemmell and Devin Gemmell. Marie was born on October 24, 1978 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. She died while trying to protect her two young sons both born in Gaithersburg, Maryland on October 22, 2011 and October 23, 2014.
Marie was raised in Brick, New Jersey and attended Brick Memorial, where she graduated in 1997. She then went on to attend Rowan University where she graduated with a B.A. in Communications – Radio/TV/Film during 2001. Marie was very involved with campus activities including Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, Student Government Association, and conducting campus tours for potential incoming students. While at Rowan University, Marie met the love of her life and college sweetheart, Ken Gemmell.
Within a year of her college graduation, Marie and Ken were engaged and living in Montgomery County, Maryland. During a beautiful fall wedding ceremony held in 2004, Marie and Ken married and shortly thereafter moved into their dream home in Gaithersburg. In 2007, Marie gave birth to Arabelle, who was joined by siblings Cole in 2011 and Devin in 2014. She was a loving, devoted and patient mother who always put her children and family first; Marie's last act on Earth is a testament to the depth of her love and sacrifice for her children.
Professionally, Marie recognized that the Washington area isn't the ideal area to begin a television career and worked as a Project Administrator at Davis Construction for over a decade. In March 2013, she joined First Potomac Realty Trust as an Administrative Assistant.
Marie was always the life of the party, and she was very active in the community and non-profits including Connor Cures, an organization that raises funds for pediatric brain and spinal cancer research. Just weeks before her passing, she was instrumental in organizing the 2nd Annual Connor Cures Gala and Silent Auction, held November 15 in Washington, DC.
Marie, Cole and Devin are survived by Ken Gemmell, a loving husband and father, their daughter Arabelle Gemmell, mother Kathleen Wagner, and brothers Thomas Mahan and Edd Mahan.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Connor Cures at www.connorcures.org
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