Bernadine Heffern 1935-2008
ZOLL, WELSH, HEFFERN, OLSON, GROVER, KLIKA, GRANGAARD, PLADSEN, HAIGHT, MOORE, COTA, GONSALVES, ARMSTRONG
Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 6/4/2008 at 13:05:06
Bernadine Heffern
Bernadine A. Heffern, 72, of Waukon went to be with her Lord Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, surrounded by family. Funeral services were held Friday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Schneider, Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg and Fr. Louis Trzil officiating. Burial was in St. Joseph's Paint Rock Cemetery, rural Harpers Ferry. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon was in charge of arrangements
Bernadine Ann Welsh Heffern was born July 7, 1935 in Waukon, the daughter of Patrick and Mary (Zoll) Welsh, and was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon. Bernie attended a one-room country school in the French Creek area, where she was taught by two of her sisters. She graduated from St. Patrick Catholic High School in Waukon. Following her schooling, she helped with childcare for several of her nieces and nephews as well as other area families. Many of those children continue to refer to her as "Aunt NeeNee."
November 19, 1958 she married Robert John Heffern at St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church. They operated Heffern Hilltop Farms near Harpers Ferry. She soon became a very busy homemaker and mother, having nine children in 11-1/2 years. Bernie and Bob continued to live on the farm until moving to Waukon 10 years ago.
Throughout her life, Bernie was an active volunteer. At St. Ann's/St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry she served as Director of Religious Education, Eucharistic Minister and lector as well as being a member of the Rosary Society, ACCW and a lay ministry leader. Since moving to Waukon she has been an active part of St. Patrick Catholic Church.
For over 30 years, Bernie and Bob have been active in all facets of 4-H and were both recently inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. She was also a member of the Harpers Ferry American Legion Auxiliary, active in the local dairy producers projects, volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul and with the local Pee Wee Wrestling group, and served on the Regional Foster Care Review Board, for which she received the Governor of Iowa's Volunteer Award. When her children were young she brought homemade ice cream to their class for their birthday treats.
Bernie enjoyed gardening, canning and raising chickens, attending her children and grandchildren's activities and playing euchre. She was an excellent bread baker and everyone looked forward to "Bernie's Buns" at family gatherings. She also loved to stay in touch with family and friends on the phone, often coordinating activities through what fondly became known as "Bernie's Hotline." Bernie's final volunteer effort was just last month when she was the guest speaker at the local women's Lenten breakfast event. Her words touched many lives.
Survivors include her husband, Bob, of Waukon; seven children, Mary Ann (Mick) Olson of Postville, Sara (Ray) Grover of Colo, Patti (Jim) Klika of Louisville, KY, Jack (Cindy) Heffern of Harpers Ferry, Nita (Rob) Grangaard of Waterville, Julie (Jeff) Pladsen of Shellsburg, and Jeannie (Mark) Haight of Solon; 29 grandchildren; nine siblings, Kay (Earl) Moore of New Albin, Bobby (Leona) Welsh of Caledonia, MN, Mary Lou (Bob) Cota of Harpers Ferry, Billy (Esther), Lloyd (Betty) and Jerry (Marilyn) Welsh, all of Lansing, Daniel (Sarah) and her twin Bernard (Carolyn) Welsh, both of Waukon, and Ida (Bob) Gonsalves of San Jose, CA; and 73 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Richard and Danny, who both died at age 16; five grandchildren, Richie, Jackalyn, Joseph, Jacob and Mary; infant siblings Margaret, Edward and twins Eileen and Darlene; a sister, Alice and her husband Cliff Armstrong; and a sister-in-law, Jean.
Honorary casketbearers are Bernard Welsh, John Howe, Ron Benzing, Pat Cota, Bob and Hazel Schlitter, Paul Link, Tom Melcher and Dave Weymiller. Casketbearers are Mick Olson, Ray Grover, Jim Klika, Cindy Heffern, Rob Grangaard, Jeff Pladsen and Mark Haight.
The Waukon Standard, Wednesday, April 2, 2008
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