Obituary of Emily Band

Band, Emily, 92 of Cold Spring passed away March 16, 2017. Emily was born in Passaic, NJ , raised in Nutley NJ, and graduated from Nutley High School. She has been a resident of Cape May for 53 years. She worked as a hostess at Zaberers Restaurant, and was secretary to the principal at Lower Cape May Regional High School (1967-1976). She married William FX Band Jr. in 1945, who was respectively a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, an FBI Agent, and an investigator for the Agency for International Development (USAID). His career moved Emily more than 30 times throughout the United States and Southeast Asia, all while raising 4 children. The family was stationed in Saigon, Vietnam from 1958-1960. Able and well organized, Emily became a Girl Scout leader for adult Vietnamese women. However, Madame Nhu, the de facto first lady of South Vietnam (1955-1963), seized the organization in an effort to create her own personal army of women. After stints in the Philippines and Thailand, the family settled in Cape May, New Jersey. During this time she became a second mother to numerous young people, who would drop by the house and share their difficulties to her kind and sympathetic ear. She would sit and listen, helping where she could. Her home was known as a gathering place for her children and their friends. Emily loved to cook, becoming quite accomplished in Oriental fare. She was socially adept and was well known locally for her fabulous dinner parties. Always proud of the military, she was a member of the USCG Officers Wives Club in Cape May and was instrumental in organizing numerous functions. In later years as her husband did FBI interviews, she assisted by being his "driver" and he fondly nicknamed her Agent X. Emily loved football and was an avid Eagles fan; however, her greatest love was her family. She is survived by her 4 children, Barbara Axelsson (Michael) of Forest Hill, MD., Patricia Bowman of Cape May, NJ. William Band (Tammy) of Baltimore, MD., Bruce Band (Cindy) of Boston, MA. 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Also survived by her brother Rudy Toldrian (Gert), and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 11:30 am at EVOY FUNERAL HOME, INC. 3218 Bayshore Road, North Cape May, NJ 08204. Friends will be received at the funeral home from 10:30am – 11:30am. Interment will be private. Donations can be made to Grace Healthcare Services 105 Fieldcrest Ave., Suite 402, Edison, NJ 08837 or The Coast Guard Foundation 394 Taugwonk Road, Stonington, CT 06378. Condolences can be sent to www.evoyfuneralhome.com .