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Emily K. Fischer | Volunteer, 89

Emily K. Fischer, 89, a mother and volunteer from Northeast Philadelphia, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday at Lafayette Redeemer, a nursing home in Philadelphia.

Emily K. Fischer, 89, a mother and volunteer from Northeast Philadelphia, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday at Lafayette Redeemer, a nursing home in Philadelphia.

She was honored by the Chapel of Four Chaplains for her community service. She spent decades as a Girl Scout cookie mother, leader, and neighborhood chairwoman, and as a council volunteer for Girl Scouts of Philadelphia.

She worked to integrate disabled girls into Girl Scout troops. As a member of the Mary Koff Chapter of the United Cerebral Palsy Association, she raised funds and recruited volunteers.

Mrs. Fischer was a long-term president of the PTO at Solis-Cohen School in Northeast Philadelphia.

She participated in the Neighborhood Advisory Committee of the Northeast MOMobile of the Maternity Care Coalition. Even as a resident at Lafayette Redeemer, starting in September 2007, she continued to do volunteer work, for the campaign of U.S. Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz.

Mrs. Fischer was born in Holland, Mich. She studied at Hope College and earned a degree in costume design from Western Michigan University in the 1940s.

She came to Philadelphia in 1946 to sing with a big band and was a buyer for a department store.

Not only did she make most of her daughters' clothes, but she also created award-winning costumes for local baby parades.

She met Bill Fischer, a weight lifter, at a USO dance. He was in the Navy. They married in 1947. He died in 1987.

Mrs. Fischer was called "sports granny" by her grandchildren because she followed their activities and liked to discuss the Phillies and Eagles.

She is survived by daughters JoAnne, Mary Lou, Sandy Herman, and Robin McCann; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

A service will be at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Joseph Levine and Sons, 7112 N. Broad St. Interment will be in Montefiore Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to Maternity Care Coalition, 2000 Hamilton St., Suite 205, Philadelphia 19130.