Debbi Heffern (née Sypniewski)
May 5, 1956 - February 17, 2024
Debbi Heffern (née Sypniewski) died at home on February 17, surrounded by family.
Growing up in a military family, Debbi's childhood included many moves and many homes - most of them with beaches, which she dearly loved. Nonetheless, she eventually ended up in her family's hometown, St. Louis, Missouri.
After her parents' divorce, Debbi assisted her now-single mother by taking on a variety of caretaking responsibilities for three of her four younger siblings (Karen, Rich, and Kevin).
Through a Visitation Academy theater production, she met Pat Heffern. They were high school sweethearts, dated through college, and got married soon thereafter. They ultimately shared 46 years of loving marriage together.
For more than 40 years, Debbi volunteered for La Leche League, teaching parents how to breastfeed as well as performing a wide range of leadership roles within the organization.
Debbi also worked at Mercy Hospital as a lactation consultant for more than 20 years, teaching new parents how to breastfeed.
From August 2009 to February 2024, Debbi battled against colon cancer, undergoing numerous major surgeries, some radiation, and unending chemo treatments. Debbi often compared it to "whack-a-mole" - every time the cancer popped back up somewhere else, she and her doctors would whack it back down. Through this battle, Debbi never complained, never became bitter. In fact, it was quite the opposite: through it all, Debbi was a constant source of love to those around her. Debbi frequently expressed appreciation for her prayer support groups, for giving her the strength she needed.
Because of that 14 year battle, Debbi was able to work with countless more families through her work with LLL and Mercy. But, more importantly, she got to see her grandchildren grow up.
Debbi was preceded in death by her parents Jacquelyn Shumate and William Sypniewski and by her younger brother Michael.
Debbi is survived by her loving husband Pat; her three children Kevin (Jen), Kathy, and Michael (Kalinda); and her six grandchildren Reiley, Ainsley, Sawyer, Hayden, Luka, and Ivy.
Memorial contributions may be made to La Leche League USA or Mercy Health Foundation.
Services: Visitation will be 4:00-8:00pm on Friday March 1st, at SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Rd at Holloway, Ballwin, MO 63011
A Funeral Mass will be Celebrated at 10:30am on Saturday March 2nd, at St. Clement Church. 1510 Bopp Rd, Des Peres, MO 63131. Burial to follow, with details coming soon.
Debbi Heffern (née Sypniewski)
May 5, 1956 - February 17, 2024
Debbi Heffern (née Sypniewski) died at home on February 17, surrounded by family.
Growing up in a military family, Debbi's childhood included many moves and many homes - most of them with beaches, which she dearly loved. Nonetheless, she eventually ended up in her family's hometown, St. Louis, Missouri.
After her parents' divorce, Debbi assisted her now-single mother by taking on a variety of caretaking responsibilities for three of her four younger siblings (Karen, Rich, and Kevin).
Through a Visitation Academy theater production, she met Pat Heffern. They were high school sweethearts, dated through college, and got married soon thereafter. They ultimately shared 46 years of loving marriage together.
For more than 40 years, Debbi volunteered for La Leche League, teaching parents how to breastfeed as well as performing a wide range of leadership roles within the organization.
Debbi also worked at Mercy Hospital as a lactation consultant for more than 20 years, teaching new parents how to breastfeed.
From August 2009 to February 2024, Debbi battled against colon cancer, undergoing numerous major surgeries, some radiation, and unending chemo treatments. Debbi often compared it to "whack-a-mole" - every time the cancer popped back up somewhere else, she and her doctors would whack it back down. Through this battle, Debbi never complained, never became bitter. In fact, it was quite the opposite: through it all, Debbi was a constant source of love to those around her. Debbi frequently expressed appreciation for her prayer support groups, for giving her the strength she needed.
Because of that 14 year battle, Debbi was able to work with countless more families through her work with LLL and Mercy. But, more importantly, she got to see her grandchildren grow up.
Debbi was preceded in death by her parents Jacquelyn Shumate and William Sypniewski and by her younger brother Michael.
Debbi is survived by her loving husband Pat; her three children Kevin (Jen), Kathy, and Michael (Kalinda); and her six grandchildren Reiley, Ainsley, Sawyer, Hayden, Luka, and Ivy.
Memorial contributions may be made to La Leche League USA or Mercy Health Foundation.
Services: Visitation will be 4:00-8:00pm on Friday March 1st, at SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Rd at Holloway, Ballwin, MO 63011
A Funeral Mass will be Celebrated at 10:30am on Saturday March 2nd, at St. Clement Church. 1510 Bopp Rd, Des Peres, MO 63131. Burial to follow, with details coming soon.
Gravesite Details
Burial date: March 2, 2024.
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