WESTFIELD – Doreen Lynn Heacock. After a long and arduous battle with ALS, Doreen passed on peacefully on September 24, 2013 at home with her family at her side. While she may have left this physical world, her joyous spirit and cherished memories will be forever carried in the hearts of everyone who knew this extraordinary woman.
Doreen and her husband Craig were married 27 years. They met while both working at Western Mass Hospital in Westfield. Along the way they raised three incredibly strong, loving, and capable children, Katherine, Conner, and Cameron, who selflessly dedicated the last few years of their young lives to caring for their mother.
Doreen was born in Palmer on September 16, 1957 and grew up in Monson. Her parents, Joyce and Jerry Carrigan still reside in the same house where they raised their family. Doreen was the oldest of four children. Her best friend and sister, Denise Kokoszka, lives in Three Rivers with her family. Her brother, Jerome and family are in Chicopee, and her brother Scott resides in Wales with his family.
Doreen was Registered Nurse, graduating from HCC in 1987. She worked in a few different capacities over the years, but for her last ten years she was at the Holyoke Medical Center. She loved her job, she always said her greatest satisfaction as a nurse came from the patients she cared for and the friends and coworkers she was fortunate enough to have known while at HMC.
When she had some spare time Doreen loved gardening and her dogs. Doreen amazingly transformed her rock strewn, tree-lined back yard into a beautiful shade garden. She loved clipping her plants and sharing them with friends, and visiting the farm in Suffield and talking gardening with her Aunt Louise. The family has always loved dogs, but Belle, an Australian Cattle Dog, held a special place in Doreen’s heart. She spent countless hours working and playing with Belle, transforming 35 pounds of pure energy into a well-mannered and loyal friend. Belle always slept on the bed with Doreen, protecting her, and was right there next to her at the end.
Please join us in celebrating her life. Traditional calling hours will be held Saturday, October 5th at the Legacy Funeral Home, 4 Princeton Street in Westfield from 10:00am-12:00noon, followed immediately by a gathering of friends and family at the Elks Lodge, 56 Franklin Street, Westfield.
Donations may be made to Hospice Lifecare of Holyoke, or the ALS Foundation. Please visit www.legacy-funeralhome.com.
