Andrea E. Heersema

Andrea Heersema (born May 20, 1943) of Orland Park, IL, beloved mother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully September 26, 2025, after a long illness. There will be no viewing or funeral service, per Andy's wishes.

Survived by daughters Susan and Janet Heersema, siblings and in-laws Joseph Bafia, Henry Skau Jr, Bernadette Zylka (Richard), Deborah Schroeder (Thomas), Margaret Aebi, Victoria Archibald (Daniel), Gregory Skau (Rita), David Skau (Joan), Mary Beth Skau, and many nieces and nephews.

Andrea was the oldest of 10 children. Raised on the south side of Chicago. She and her next eldest sibling Patricia delighted in making friends and trouble at the Settlement House and helped keep the Skau household in order.

She spoke fondly of her time working at Andie's Candies, Sweetheart Cup and the People's Gas Company, where she worked when she met and married William Peter Heersema (b.1942-d.2003).

She was a devoted mother to her daughters with endless love and support during both triumph and catastrophe. She taught Susan and Janet kindness, strength and independence.

She delighted us with her quick wit and thrilling stories about going skydiving or her adventures in the Middle East. But she also taught us to stretch out and savor the things we love, from nurturing a 50-year friendship to letting a caramel melt in your mouth.

Andy collected an enormous volume of friends, from neighbors, teachers and fellow parents to her beloved Ladies Club, who would get together often and fill the house with food, wine and laughter.

She obtained her real estate license and worked for many years helping folks to find and make their own home.

After retirement she made even more friends volunteering at Neat Repeats, a resale shop created to support victims of domestic violence.

She was a prodigious reader and writer, and loved crosswords, trivia, ice cream and singing along to her favorite music, which included everything from South Pacific to "Hey Ya!" by Outkast to Cyndi Lauper.

Even her name is singular, she is and was the only Andrea Heersema the world has ever known, and we all miss her so dearly.