The Life of VIRGINIA EILEEN HEGGEN
Virginia E. Heggen, 79, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 2, 2013 at Bright Kavanagh Hospice House in Des Moines, after a brief illness. She was born on August 7, 1933 in Des Moines and grew up by Witmer Park in the Drake neighborhood. After graduating from Saint Joseph’s Academy in 1951, Virginia worked for Equitable Insurance in downtown Des Moines.
After a long engagement, Virginia Harritt married Ted Heggen on May 17, 1958. Shortly after, they settled into a wonderful neighborhood full of young families on the Southside of Des Moines. Together they raised six children in that tiny, red house, which over the years served as the perfect place for this very close and now even larger family to gather and celebrate often. She always put the finishing touches on the get-together’s with decorations and trimmings, and more decorations for every holiday and season.
Virginia had a generous spirit . . . . and spirited she was! Her life-long vocation was her dedication to her family, as she put the needs of family and friends first. She spent time helping others, often in small ways, and she was always quick to offer just the right “mom-ism” that fit the situation. She invested herself in others because it was what she had to offer, and she always found a way to help, enthusiastically! In later years she shared her words of comfort and encouragement with others by starting her own greeting card mission, and volunteering at Genesis Care Center.
Virginia served as a Blue Bird and Camp Fire leader, helped with the Lincoln High School Band Boosters, enjoyed being a member of the Women’s Auxiliary at the American Legion, and a member of the Altar and Rosary Society at Christ the King Church. She looked forward to meeting with friends from Saint Joseph’s Academy, the neighborhood, Senior Center, and the over 60 club. Virginia didn’t know a stranger, though she recently described herself as a “hang back” until she met her husband Ted. With a laugh she said, “Together, we were really something”!
Virginia had the opportunity to travel throughout her life. For her, it was enough to just get away for a few days to the lake or to Oklahoma to be with her sister and family. In later years, she took many senior bus trips, toured New York City, and enjoyed a cruise to Alaska. Virginia and Ted also started a tradition of the annual Heggen Family Clear Lake vacation, which continues today with over 37 family members.
Virginia is survived by her sister, Betty Jane Heggen-Houck; sons Ted (Kim) Heggen, Bob (Shelly) Heggen; daughters Diane Wolf, Mary (Chris) Donahue, Ginny (Steve) Tow, Katie (Ray) Noble, 13 grandchildren and their spouses, 6 great-grandchildren, and 4 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Ted, parents Bob and Erma Harritt; brother-in-law Jim Heggen, son-in-law Abe Wolf, and nephew Michael Heggen.
Virginia celebrated life! She enjoyed good health most of her days, and any other kind of day was just an opportunity for her to “Make her own sunshine”. She was always looking forward to “Getting up and getting something going”, and being with family and friends. In the end she said, “It is what it is”, but her faith made everyone around her stronger. She had a tremendous amount of love to spread around and enjoyed making others happy. Her family was her “ship”, and her real delight was in knowing that her ship had come in, full of treasures. Ted and Virginia thought of their family as an extension of themselves. Their light will continue to shine in all of us forever . . . . “We’ll see you in our dreams!”
The family of Virginia Heggen would like to thank the Bright Kavanagh Hospice House staff for their outstanding care, and friends for their continued prayers, love and support. Memorial contributions may be directed to Christ the King Catholic Church and the Bright Kavanagh Hospice House.