Helen Claire Heck, 62, passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 26, 2019, surrounded by her family.
Helen was born in San Diego, California, and grew up in Ridgecrest, California, where she graduated from Burroughs High School in 1975. She attended and played tennis for Cerro Coso until 1977 when she met her husband, John Heck, and moved to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Helen and John celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary June 23, 2019. They had three children, Casey Bryant, Alison Rae, and Daniel Stephen.
The family moved to Poquoson in 1988, where they lived until moving to Newport News in 2017. Helen worked for the Poquoson Public Library for over 20 years before retiring in January 2018.
She was preceded in death by her father, John “Jack” Johantgen; brother, Knud Nielsen; and sister, Marie Johantgen.
In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by her mother, Helen Jackson; younger siblings, Bess Johantgen Reed, John Johantgen, Jeannie Fitch and Francis Johantgen; stepmother, Jeannie Johantgen; and many nieces and nephews.
The family thanks Helen’s many doctors and nurses at Virginia Oncology and elsewhere for their diagnosis and longtime treatment of her rare immune deficiency.
The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 13, at Weymouth Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Deacon Anton Siochi officiating. A reception will be held at St. Michael’s Hall, 144 Harpersville Road, Newport News, immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to the Immune Deficiency Foundation or Dining for Women.
