Sister Bridget Patricia Heeran Obituary (1933

SISTER ANITA HEERAN, CSJP, 1933-2014 Known as 'a little lady with a big heart', died September 14, 2014 in Bellevue, Washington. Brigid Patricia Heeran (Sister Anita) was born to James and Anne Heeran in County Leitrim, Ireland on March 28, 1933, the 9th of 10 children of. She is the sister of Monica Heeran, CSJP. Anita entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Cabra, Ireland in 1949 as an aspirant and continued as a novice at St. Michael's Novitiate, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. She professed final vows in 1955. In preparation for her ministry, Anita received certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse and training in Dietetics. Her early assignments included ministry at the Generalate, Glendola, NJ, dietician and nurse at St. Luke's Hospital, New Bern, NC, Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, NJ, St. James Hospital, Newark, NJ and St. Michael's Novitiate. Later, her passion for being with those who are poor and forgotten by society called her to share her gifts of hospitality, friendship and outreach: at St. Joseph's Village, Rockleigh, NJ; at the Christian Appalachian Project in Kentucky; at the drop-in center for homeless people--AIDS Day Clinic in Washington, D.C. and, in 2003, at The Volunteers in Medicine Clinic for the uninsured, founded by Sister Monica Heeran, in Eugene, Oregon. In early July 2014, Anita and her sister Monica moved from Eugene to come and live at St. Mary-on-the-Lake. WA, She will be deeply missed by her family, community and many friends. Anita's friends at the Day Center in Washington, D.C. remembered her in this way: A - is for the angels that surround you and the angelic way you care for us each day. N - is for the nice things you do and say. I - is for the inspiration you are to us, your intellect and the interest you show in us. T - is for the trust we have learned to have in you and the true friend you have been to us. A - is for the admiration we have for you. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary-on-the-Lake on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. Remembrances can be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 248, Bellevue, WA 98009 To send a flower arrangement in memory of Sister Bridget Patricia Heeran, please click here to visit our sympathy store.