Heidi F. Vaughan

Heidi F. (Vasseur) Vaughan, 40, of Windsor, beloved wife of Alex Vaughan for 10 years, entered peacefully into eternal rest Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, surrounded by her loving family.

The daughter of Gilbert N. Vasseur Jr. and Janis (Simonoko) Vasseur, Heidi was born in Springfield and raised in Enfield. She was a graduate of Fermi High School class of 1996 and a graduate of UConn, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. Following her undergraduate degree, she earned a degree in fire science from Capital Community College and began her firefighter/EMT career as a volunteer with the Hazardville Fire Department, eventually becoming the first female apparatus operator and first female lieutenant in the town of Enfield. Her career spanned numerous departments over the years, including service in Somers, Windsor Locks, and Windsor. She was hired full-time by the Hamilton Standard Fire Department where she met her husband Alex. Through her dedication and professionalism, she was eventually hired by the UConn Storrs Fire Department. She climbed the ranks at Storrs to fire lieutenant and deputy fire marshal. She was very involved in public safety and education, but her true love was responding with her crew on A-Platoon. Her passion and dedication to her career as well as her loyalty and camaraderie shared with fellow firefighters and first responders was unwavering. She retired as fire lieutenant after 15 years of dedicated service. In her free time, Heidi enjoyed travelling, especially to Disney World and Newburyport, Massachusetts, where she shared many happy memories.

Besides her husband and parents, Heidi is survived by a sister, Heather Vasseur-Lallo and her husband, Jeffrey Lallo; nephew and godchild, Logan Lallo; her mother-in-law, Jane Cimbak and her husband, Joe, of Windsor; her father-in-law, Richard Vaughan and his wife, Melissa, of Farmington; a brother-in-law, Nicholas Vaughan and his companion, Lindsay Bellows, of Nevada City, California; aunts and uncles Patricia and her husband, Henry Bednarz Jr., of Somers, William Vasseur of Simsbury, Anne-Marie and her husband, Wayne Buck, of Enfield, Richard Vasseur of Ellington, Jane and her husband, Daniel Zbikowski, of Enfield, Kenneth Simonoko and his wife, Paula, of Shelburne, New Hampshire, Frances and her husband, Sherwood Griffing, of Middlefield; and 11 cousins; Margo (Bednarz) Cicciarella, John Bednarz, Ashley (Buck) Hurley, Travis Buck, Nicole Vasseur, Matthew Zbikowski, Kathryn Zbikowski, Shane Simonoko, Rae (Simonoko) Arsenault, Simone (Griffing) Torneo, and Everette Griffing; and many young cousins who were more like nieces and nephews, Sky, Star, Delaney, Blakely, Wayatt, Lincoln, Hadley, Taylor, Brooke, Jack, Max, Jacob, and Tommy. She also leaves many close and special friends who occupied an important place in her life.

Visitation hours, with an honor guard provided by her fire service brothers and sisters, will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road, Enfield. Overflow parking for the visitation will be available with a provided shuttle bus at the Eli Whitney School parking lot, Olmstead Road, Enfield.

The funeral service and burial are private.

Donations in Heidi's memory may be made to the Hayden Station Fire Company Inc., P.O. Box 306, Windsor, CT 06095 and to www.breastfriendsfund.org

To leave online condolences, please visit www.leetestevens.com