WESTFIELD – Heidi Ruth Meissner, 57, passed away unexpectedly March 10, 2025, at Baystate Medical Center, battling metastatic breast cancer. Heidi was born January 12, 1968, at Noble Hospital in Westfield, MA and was raised in Russell, MA. She graduated from Gateway Regional High School in Huntington, MA in 1986. She proudly worked jobs, including being a machine operator in an envelope factory and a group home caregiver before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Massachusetts in 2002. Heidi worked for Baystate Health Systems from 2002, where, in 2006 became an Accounts Receivable Specialist.
Heidi was an active woman, who loved swimming, hiking, biking and being outdoors in the sunshine. She especially appreciated the beauty of the colors in a sunrise or sunset, making every effort to catch at least a glimpse. She took great pride in her ability to run 5K’s and being the fastest female in the Lung Association Climb Springfield 2010, despite having been severely asthmatic as a child, and into adulthood. She put great importance on being healthy, working out regularly and eating a healthy diet. There was often a book in her hands, as someone who loved to read.
Heidi was a lover of the arts and appreciated many different forms of art. At one point she was an art model, working to perfect her poses to make them interesting and challenging for an artist to replicate. She loved music. If it was music that inspired her to dance, she could do so for hours, becoming soaked with sweat. Dancing gave her great energy and joy.
While Heidi may have appeared serious much of the time, she certainly had a playful, silly side. One thing that brought that out, something she got from her mother, was when she saw animals. It could have been dogs, cats, chickens or goats, she had to start a conversation with them in her silly voice. Her laugh and smile were contagious, and were emblematic of her warm, loving character.
Heidi was a gentle, kind, compassionate woman who selflessly carried immense weight on her shoulders. She had great care and concern for the people around her. She gave people the benefit of the doubt and saw the best in everyone. Every single day she did her best to make this world a better place.
Heidi was preceded by her parents Carl E. and Ruth Meissner. Heidi is survived by her husband, Thomas Witkop, brothers Carl, Dwight, James and Raymond, as well as nieces Amy, Kendra and Linzi, and nephews, Carl, Adam and Eric. Calling hours for Heidi will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2025 from 12-2:30 PM with a Celebration of Life to follow at 2:30 PM in Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield. www.firtionadams.com
