<P> Nine years have passed . The Stage Manager opens the act with a lengthy monologue emphasizing eternity , bringing the audience 's attention to the cemetery outside of town and the characters who have died since the wedding , including Mrs. Gibbs ( pneumonia , while traveling ) , Wally Webb ( burst appendix , while camping ) , Mrs. Soames , and Simon Stimson ( suicide by hanging ) . Town undertaker Joe Stoddard is introduced , as is a young man named Sam Craig who has returned to Grover 's Corners for his cousin 's funeral . That cousin is Emily , who died giving birth to her and George 's second child . Once the funeral ends , Emily emerges to join the dead ; Mrs. Gibbs urges her to forget her life , warning her that being able to see but not interact with her family , all the while knowing what will happen in the future , will cause her too much pain , but she refuses . Ignoring the warnings of Simon , Mrs. Soames , and Mrs. Gibbs , Emily returns to Earth to relive one day , her 12th birthday . Emily watches with joy at being able to see her parents and some of the people of her childhood for the first time in years . However , her joy quickly turns to pain as she realizes how little people appreciate the simple joys of life . The memory proves too painful for her , and she realizes that every moment of life should be treasured . When she asks the Stage Manager if anyone truly understands the value of life while they live it , he responds , `` No . The saints and poets , maybe -- they do some . '' Emily returns to her grave next to Mrs. Gibbs and watches impassively as George kneels weeping over her . The Stage Manager concludes the play and wishes the audience a good night . </P>
<P> Nine years have passed . The Stage Manager opens the act with a lengthy monologue emphasizing eternity , bringing the audience 's attention to the cemetery outside of town and the characters who have died since the wedding , including Mrs. Gibbs ( pneumonia , while traveling ) , Wally Webb ( burst appendix , while camping ) , Mrs. Soames , and Simon Stimson ( suicide by hanging ) . Town undertaker Joe Stoddard is introduced , as is a young man named Sam Craig who has returned to Grover 's Corners for his cousin 's funeral . That cousin is Emily , who died giving birth to her and George 's second child . Once the funeral ends , Emily emerges to join the dead ; Mrs. Gibbs urges her to forget her life , warning her that being able to see but not interact with her family , all the while knowing what will happen in the future , will cause her too much pain , but she refuses . Ignoring the warnings of Simon , Mrs. Soames , and Mrs. Gibbs , Emily returns to Earth to relive one day , her 12th birthday . Emily watches with joy at being able to see her parents and some of the people of her childhood for the first time in years . However , her joy quickly turns to pain as she realizes how little people appreciate the simple joys of life . The memory proves too painful for her , and she realizes that every moment of life should be treasured . When she asks the Stage Manager if anyone truly understands the value of life while they live it , he responds , `` No . The saints and poets , maybe -- they do some . '' Emily returns to her grave next to Mrs. Gibbs and watches impassively as George kneels weeping over her . The Stage Manager concludes the play and wishes the audience a good night . </P>
who dies in act 3 of our town
who dies in act 3 of our town
Mrs. Gibbs Wally Webb Mrs. Soames Simon Stimson Emily
Mrs. Gibbs Wally Webb Mrs. Soames Simon Stimson Emily