Emily H. Bibbins

Emily H. Bibbins, age 91, a long-time resident of Maplewood, NJ, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Born in the Bronx, NY, on March 26, 1934, she was a daughter of the late Fredrick and Emily (Heinkey) Highfield. She lived on Maplewood Ave for nearly 70 years before moving into Winchester Gardens for 14 years, and finally moving to Delaware to be closer to her daughter.

Emily graduated from Columbia High School and Bucknell University whereupon she obtained a job at Brown Brothers investment bank in NYC. She met her husband, Charles H. Bibbins, at the local Outing Club and they were married for 56 years, raising two children, Alison and Thomas.

Emily was an active member of Morrow Methodist Church, most notably, working on the Turnover Sale for over 50 years. She served as co-director for many years and oversaw the Men’s department well into her 80s. Once her children were grown, Emily worked at the Maplewood Library for nearly 10 years, happily perusing through the romance novels and biographies she loved to read. In their later years, Emily and Charlie became world travelers, visiting dozens of countries, eagerly embracing the cultures. They toasted beers in Munich’s Octoberfest, slept in a Bedouin tent in Morocco, and rode an elephant in Thailand.

Emily is survived by her daughter, Alison Burris (C.R.) of Newark, DE; son, Thomas Bibbins (Tricia) of Torrance, CA; and grandchildren Daltrey and Rheannon Burris; and Taylor, Logan and Hunter Bibbins. In addition to her parents, Emily was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie; and grandson, Skyler Burris.

Thank you to Juniper Village at Newark, DE, for the care they provided Emily in her final months.

A private service and interment will be held at Morrow Church in Maplewood, NJ later in the year.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Emily’s memory to the Friends of the Maplewood Library, PO Box 183, Maplewood, NJ 07040.