Liza M. Heffelfinger

                MOUNT VERNON – Liza Marie (Sapp) Heffelfinger, 51, peacefully left her earthly body riding on the wings of Holy Michael the Archangel on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, minutes after her grandmother, Roseanne Euman, told her it was ok to join her heavenly father.

                Her parents, Paul & Beth (Euman) Sapp welcomed their first child on October 21, 1965 at Mercy Hospital in Mount Vernon.

                Liza, pronounced Lisa, always told people we thought she needed to be baptized “Elizabeth”, therefore Liza with a “z”.        

                A 1983 graduate of Danville High School, Liza graduated as a Junior.  She continued her education at COTC – Newark, earning an Associate of Computer Science.  She met her husband, Gary Heffelfinger, joining in a game of Euchre during class break.  Her first job was in housing at Kenyon College, Gambier.  In May of 1987, Liza began working at Cooper Energy Services, Mount Vernon, as a computer programmer.  She furthered her education with a BS in Business from Mount Vernon Nazarene College in the Excell Pregram.

                Liza and Gary were married July 11, 1987 and began their life’s journey.  Upon learning they could not have children they pursued adoption.  On Dec. 29, 1998 their dreams were realized with the birth of Delenn Rachel.  At this time, Liza began working part-time at CES until the company moved.  The joy of her life was being a full-time wife and mother.  Then in 2006, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which began an 11-year battle.  Liza was later diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS, which only 8-10% of MS patients develop, and it relentlessly engulfed her being.  Needing full-time care, her parents promised she would not have to live in a nursing facility, and she moved home with them in April of 2013.  She looked forward to the weekends and Holidays when Gary would take her to their home.

                Sept. 2016, Liza developed aspiration pneumonia.  After many days/weeks in the hospital, she entered Hospice care in late December.  The concept of Hospice is to provide comfort care for the patient enabling them to remain home.

She is survived by her husband, Gary R. Heffelfinger of Mount Vernon; a daughter, Delenn Rachel Heffelfinger of the home.  Her parents, Paul & Beth (Euman) Sapp of Danville.  Sisters, Debra (Mark) Supino of Blacklick, Jeannie Colopy of Danville, and Kendra (Alain) Deschambault of St. Charles, MO; brothers, Joseph Sapp of Irvine, CA, and Benjamin (Marty) Sapp of Johnstown; her maternal grandmother, Roseanne Euman of New Lexington; her in-laws, Richard & Frances Heffelfinger of Mount Vernon; sisters-in-law, Gina Shackle of Mount Vernon, and Lisa (Steve) Awwiller of Fredericktown. Also, special friend, Denise; many nieces & nephews, and great-nieces & great-nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Special thanks to her caregivers, Sherril and Charity, and the entire Hospice staff.  Without their care, Liza could not have remained home.

                Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at the St. Luke Catholic Church in Danville with Father Homer Blubaugh officiating.  Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery at Mount Vernon, followed by a luncheon at the St. Luke Community Center in Danville.  Visitation will be held on Monday, April 17th from 3-8 p.m. at the Fischer Funeral Home in Danville, with a prayer service to begin at 7:45 p.m.  www.fischerfuneralhome.com

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive Ashland, OH 44805.

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