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Douglas C. Heffernan

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Southwick Regional School

FUNERAL HOME

Bailey Funeral Home - Plainville

48 Broad Street

Plainville, Connecticut

Douglas Heffernan Obituary

Douglas C. Heffernan, 59, died Sunday, (January 19, 2003) at his home in Willis, TX, while undergoing treatment for lung cancer in Houston. He was born August 16, 1943, in Portsmouth, NH, the son of Edward and Madeline (Bowler) Heffernan. He resided in East Hampton, for the past 27 years and summered in Marlow, NH. He graduated from Southwick High School in Southwick, MA and was a veteran of the USS Nuclear Navy, serving aboard the USS Ethan Allen SSBN 608 and fast attack submarine USS Seawolf 575. After discharge in 1970, he began working at Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Plant in Haddam Neck. He retired in 1999 and during his years of service had held many positions including, control room operator, senior reactor operator, shift supervisor, outage manager and maintenance manager. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in East Hampton. He also was active in Boy Scouts of America in Plainville as an explorer leader and East Hampton as a Scoutmaster. He leaves his wife of 34 years, Mona (DeBay) Heffernan; daughter, Kimberly Paggioli and husband Matthew of The Woodlands, TX; sons, Scott Heffernan and his fiancee, Kimberly Crawford of Big Pine Key, FL and Patrick Heffernan of East Hampton; brothers, Edward Heffernan and David Heffernan of Southwick, MA, Thomas Heffernan of Suffield, and Richard Heffernan of Chesapeake, VA; sister, Carol Whitehouse of Vero Beach, FL; many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends also survive. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 31, friends are welcome for visitation, 9-11 a.m., at the Bailey Funeral Home, 48 Broad St., Plainville. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Doug's memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1004, Meriden, CT 06450-1004 or to the Loon Preservation Society, P.O. Box 604, Moultonborough, NH 03254.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Hartford Courant from Jan. 25 to Jan. 26, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for Douglas Heffernan

19 Entries

Chris Rowland/Fusco

January 19, 2021

Dearest Mona, years have passed and my Jimmy And son Mark have joined Doug. Thinking of you after all these years and believe or not June I graduate with my BA in Psychology thanks to you giving me a chance so long ago. Love always, Chris Rowland Fusco

mike chelstowski

January 30, 2003

Mona,Scott,Kim,Patrick:

I was so sorry to hear of Doug's passing. He was an exceptional man, and will remain so in my memory. Anytime I think of Sand Pond, I think of Doug. I am grateful to have known him and will always appreciate the kindness he showed my kids (they have had many tubing rides but none quite like the ones with Doug at the helm). I am also indebted to him for numerous rescues on the pond. His fireworks displays were always exciting and unpredictable. I feel very fortunate to have seen him this past summer. He has left a legacy of a really terrific family and grateful friends and neighbors. I wish I could do or say something that would ease the pain of his loss. With fondness and sympathy, Mike

The Dickerson's

January 30, 2003

Dear Mona,

We are very sorry to hear about your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this time. We will always remember the kind words Doug had when we were visiting the Cozzi's or just passing by in our pedal boat. We hope to see you at the lake this summer.

Mary & Tim

Carrie & Eric Nelson

January 29, 2003

To Mona, Kim, Scott, Pat

It is difficult for all of us to believe Doug is not home with you. We share your grief, sorrow, frustration and anger- and so many other feelings at this difficult time. We are very sorry that his smiling face is no longer home with you....We believe though, that his face IS now smiling. He is in a safe place, watching over you, until the day you (and we) meet him again. Doug's spirit is still here in each one of us that he has touched. Doug was a very special man- we will never stop telling his stories and he will NEVER be forgotten. We are very sorry for your loss. We love you deeply!

George MacEachern

January 29, 2003

Our sincere sympathy goes to Mona, the kids, (they will always be kids), and the entire Heffernan family. You have always been there, right down the street, and you have always meant more to me than you will ever know.

I cannot help but thinking of a sentence Doug wrote in one of his last email msgs. Who would have ever thought things would end up like this? We never know!

My thoughts are with you all. Stay well.

Love,

George

Shelley, Chris & Christina DuBois

January 29, 2003

Dear Mona, Kim & Matt, Scott & Kim, Patrick and unborn children,

We feel so blessed to have you all and to have had Doug in our lives. His positive outlook, laughter and his saying "excellent" are special memories. We only knew Doug a few years but loved he and Mona from the start. Actually we love the whole family and especially miss living close of our favorite friends, Kim and Matt. We are with you all in spirit as you get through this sad time. We do smile to think that Doug is drinking a Bud up in heaven and providing great joy to his and our loved ones already there. God Bless!

Susan DeBay

January 29, 2003

"The next place that I go/Will be as peaceful and familiar/As a sleepy summer Sunday/And a sweet,untroubled mind.And yet..it won't be anything like any place I've ever been...or seen...or even dreamed of/In the place I left behind.I won't know where I'm going,and I won't know where I've been/As I tumble through the always/and look back toward the when.I'll glide beyond the rainbows,I'll drift above the sky.I'll fly into the wonder,without ever wondering why.I won't remember getting there.Somehow I'll just arrive. But I know that I belong there and will feel much more alive/ than I have ever felt before. I will be absolutely free of the things that I held onto/that were holding onto me.The next place that I go will be so quiet and so still/That the whispered song of sweet belonging will rise up to fill/The listening sky with joyful silence, and with unheard harmonies/Of music made by no one playing,like a hush upon a breeze.There will be no room for darkness in that place of living light,Where an ever-dawning morning pushes back the dying night. The very air will fill with brilliance, as the brightly shining sun/And the moon and half a million stars are married into one. The next place that I go/Won't really be a place at all. There won't be any seasons-winter,summer,spring or fall-Nor a Monday,nor a Friday,nor December,nor July/And the seconds will be standing still...while hours hurry by.I will not be a boy or girl,a woman or a man. I'll simply be just simply me. No worse or better than. My skin will not be dark or light. I won't be fat or tall. The body I once lived in won't be part of me at all.I will finally be perfect. I will be without a flaw. I will never make one more mistake, or break the smallest law. And the me that was impatient,or was angry or unkind,will simply be a memory. The me I left behind.I will travel empty-handed. There is not a single thing I have collected in my life/That I would ever want to bring...except...the love of those who loved me,and the warmth of those who cared. The happiness and memories and magic that we shared. Though I will know the joy of solitude...I'll never be alone. I'll be embraced by all the family and friends I've ever known. Although I might not see their faces,all our hearts will beat as one, And the circle of our spirits will shine brighter than the sun. I will cherish all the friendships I was fortunate to find, All the love and all the laughter in the place I leave behind. All these good things will go with me. They will make my spirit glow. And that light will shine forever...In the next place that I go." ~See you in the next place, Doug.Rest in peace.Love, Sue, Malcolm, Eddie & Maddie XOXOXOXO

Maureen Hallberg

January 29, 2003

Dear Mona & Family,

I want to express my deepest sympathies to you at this very difficult time. Doug was always a fighter and he certainly fought this illness to the end. I will always remember Doug and the "Excellent" attitude he had.

Bobi Beveridge

January 28, 2003

Dear Mona and Family;

My heartfelt sympathy at this time of great loss. I have indeed been blessed to have known and worked for such a caring, giving man. I have great memories of the good times at CY, one of the best being in charge of his retirement party, that he so enjoyed. May you draw on your memories of your beautiful life together during this difficult time.

Love, Bobi Beveridge

Bobby&Gifford Briggs

January 28, 2003

Dearest Mona, Our deepest sympathies to you and your family, it is a terrible loss for all... With sadness Bobby & Giff

kevin safford

January 27, 2003

I WANT TO SEND OUT MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO ALL OF THE HEFFERNAN FAMILY.YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS.HE ALWAYS HAD A WAY OF MAKING ME FEEL SO WELCOME IN THE HEFFERNAN FAMILY.HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.GOD BLESS YOU, KEVIN

chris rowland/fusco

January 27, 2003

Dearest Mona and family, I was thinking of you guys about a month ago, wondering how you and Doug were. It is ironic that I would see his passing in the Courant!! It has been years since I cleaned house for you in East Hampton, but you always in the back of my mind. Doug and I would have great talks when he was home and resting from the shift at the power plant. I will miss him! I have since married and like your kids, mine are all grown up. God Bless You Always. Tell the kids I said Hi. Yours truly with many great memories, Chris Rowland Fusco. PS you would be happy to know that thanks to you giving me a chance to sub at the day care in Moodus, I went on to graduate from college and was a preschool teacher in Glastonbury. I have retired early with my husband and am a story teller with puppets at the Connecticut Childrens Med Center. Thanks for your faith in me!

tammy heffernan

January 27, 2003

MT DEEPSEST SYMPATHIES TO DOUGS FAMILY.SOME OF MY GREATEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES WERE VISITING AT DOUG AND MONAS HOME.AND THEIR VACATION HOUSE ON THE LAKE.I ALWAYS WAS MADE TO FEEL VERY WELCOME. HE HAD THE BEST SENSE OF HUMOR. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. GOD BLESS YOU ALL, TAMMY

Linda Dunne Garro

January 26, 2003

My deepest sympathies to the Heffernan family. It has been many many years since seeing Dougie on Congamond Lake when I spent my summers there chasing brother Tom.

Linda Dunne Garro

Melinda Bowler DeVoe

January 26, 2003

Dear Heffernan cousins, I am so sorry for Doug's illness and death. When I was a child I would visit the Heffernan cousins on the lake, for a week or so. Doug would make me feel so wanted by his incessant teasing, then fixing it all by spoiling me . He always was a bright spot in my visits. Years later we met by being on the same flight together to the midwest. He again made me feel like the center of the world by now spoiling my son on the plane. Wonderful memories. Doug loved life and he shared that love. The Lord now welcomes him. Love, cousin Melinda

Richard Heffernan

January 25, 2003

Brother Doug:
You fought a tougher foe than the Commies of the Vietnam era. The "big C " got you; but you gave it a valiant battle. Now you can rest. I'm proud of you...Love Brother Richard

ED HUMPHREY

January 25, 2003

My sincere sympathy to Doug's family. I had Doug and some of his siblings as students many years ago in Southwick and I knew them well. God bless all of you.

Bailey Funeral Home, Inc.

January 25, 2003

Our heartfelt sympathies in this, your time of grief.

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