Mary Heffernan

Mary Heffernan, age 91, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on Saturday, October 3, 2020, after living a full joyous life.

Mary grew up in Minneapolis where she met her husband, Martin “Jim” Heffernan. She was teaching sewing and selling sewing machines before marrying in 1950 and relocating to Wilmington. Mary and Jim raised 5 children. The house was a cacophony of cooking, sewing and art projects, music and loud laughter. Mary was a friend to stray dogs, neighborhood kids, birds of all kinds, and struggling rock bands. She was quick with a joke or a play on words.

An avid reader and thinker, Mary started each day completing the crossword puzzle and could be found resting with a book before putting dinner on the table. Later in her career she worked as a school administrator for The Montieth School, volunteered at the Delaware Children’s Theatre, and studied psychology and anthropology at the Center for Life Long Learning.

Mary loved to entertain; card parties, neighborhood dinners, Halloween costume parties, or late night Bossa Nova, she had a lust for life. She developed a passion for sailing, and enjoyed many happy adventures on the water with friends and family.

Mary was grateful for Seasons Hospice and the nurses and staff of Foulk Manor North, where she resided, who so lovingly cared for her at the end.

Mary’s ashes will be cast forth to sail away with Jim’s in their beloved Chesapeake Bay.