Marion Lucy Valvo Heaney

Marion Lucy Valvo Heaney peacefully passed away on Sept. 19, 2012, after a short illness. She was 94.

Born Dec. 19, 1917, in Forestville, N.Y., Marion grew up the oldest daughter among seven children (siblings Carl, Mary, Henry, Anthony, Rose and Burt). She graduated from Fredonia State Teachers College, eventually obtaining a master’s degree. She pursued a career in education and her first teaching position was in a one-room schoolhouse near Forestville. Her teaching career took her to Greenport, N.Y., where she taught 2nd and 3rd grades for 25 years and eventually retired after teaching in New York for over 30 years.

While in Greenport, she met and married William (“Bill”) F. Heaney (deceased). Marion and Bill were married at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Forestville in 1952. They raised four children, Gayle Bealer, Kevin Heaney, Sheilah O’Heaney-Debbs and Brion Heaney. Bill and Marion retired to Texas, then to Florida and then Marion returned to Texas, residing in Rusk at the time of her passing.

She is survived by her siblings, Henry Valvo and Rose Benson; all four of her children; her sons-in-law Ted Debbs and Bill Bealer and daughter-in-law Theresa Heaney; her 12 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; her in-laws John and Helen Heaney, Bernard and Marie Heaney and Vicki Heaney; numerous loving nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and great-grand-nieces and -nephews; as well as untold numbers of past students.

Marion was an inspiration to all of us. Though small in stature, Marion Valvo Heaney was the personification of love, strong will and determination (being a 35-year cancer survivor). We will miss you greatly.

For those who wish to send flowers, the family asks instead that donations be made to the B. Timothy, Shawn T. and Kerry P. Heaney Memorial Scholarship Fund (P.O. Box 828, Ridgely, MD 21660) or St. Jude Research Center (www.stjude.org).

This is a paid notice.