Catherine "Cathy" Theresa Heffernan

Catherine Theresa Heffernan Obituary

October 2, 1938 – April 16, 2024

Catherine “Cathy” Theresa Heffernan, 85, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, surrounded by her loving children in her residence at Shannondell in Audubon, PA.

Born in Tralee, Ireland, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Cathy was the oldest of three daughters born to Hugh and Eileen (O’Shea) O’Connor. She graduated St. Brendan Diocesan High School in 1956 and The Saint Mary ‘s Hospital School of Nursing in 1961. She also took courses at Brooklyn College and Trenton State College.

Cathy began her nursing career in pediatrics at St. Mary’s Hospital in Brooklyn and retired as a Charge Nurse in the Orthopedic Department at Centra State Medical Center in Freehold Township, New Jersey. She enjoyed not only caring for her patients, but also getting to know their families and building relationships with her colleagues. During retirement, she put her nursing skills and caring nature to use as a hospice volunteer.

While Cathy’s profession was being a Registered Nurse, her life was centered around raising her six children with her beloved husband of 61 years, Daniel “Dan” Heffernan. Together Cathy and Dan created a home filled with much love and laughter. Cathy spent many hours devoted to home life - cooking healthy dinners, baking blueberry pies and Irish soda bread, sewing costumes and curtains, caring for children when they were sick and taking them to the beach and parks when they were well, throwing parties to celebrate birthdays, baptisms, and First Holy Communions. As her children got older, she encouraged them to pursue their passions and was proud of their accomplishments. When she became a grandmother, she enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s performances, school functions, sacramental celebrations, and weddings.

Devoted to her Catholic faith, Cathy was an active member of St. Veronica’s Parish while she lived in Howell, New Jersey for 41 years, before moving to Pennsylvania in 2020. At St. Veronica’s, she was a volunteer in the parish school while her children were young and served as a religious education teacher during retirement. The Rosary was her favorite prayer and The Book of Psalms was her favorite book of the Bible.

In addition to family and faith, Cathy loved flowers and gardening. She was an avid reader, especially enjoying poetry, historically accurate novels, and magazine articles related to world affairs. Other pastimes included walking on the boardwalk, sewing, and watching Jeopardy.

Cathy left an indelible impression on all who knew her and will be deeply missed by her children, extended family, and many friends. She was admired for her intelligence and strength. She will be remembered as a remarkable woman who faced adversity with faith and fortitude.

Cathy is survived by her daughters Eileen (Dennis) Kraus, Deirdre (Chris) Yeager, Maureen (Chris) Clark, Siobhan (Michael) Bedford, and son Paul (Mai) Heffernan; grandchildren, Michael Kraus, Dennis Kraus, Nathaniel Kraus, Stephen Kraus, Marguerite Kraus, Timothy Kraus, Catherine Kraus, Christian (Kristin) Yeager, Sean Yeager, Colin Yeager, Evan (Kasandra) Yeager, Brian Clark, Megan Clark, Matthew Clark, Andrew Heffernan; and great-granddaughter Gabriella Yeager. She is preceded in death by her husband, Daniel M. Heffernan; son, Daniel H. Heffernan; and sisters, Sr. Eileen O’Connor OSB and Mary Christine O’Connor.

Family and friends are invited to Cathy’s viewing on Friday, April 19, 2024, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Szpindor-Meyers Funeral Home at 101 North Park Avenue, Trooper, PA 19403, and her Funeral Mass on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 11:00am at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church at 196 N. Trooper Road, Norristown, PA 19403. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY, at 12:00pm on Monday, April 22, 2024.

Arrangements entrusted to Szpindor-Meyers Funeral Home, P.C.

Condolences may be made by visiting www.MeyersFH.com