Christine Heffernan

Christine Cloa Heffernan passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 12th, 2020, a victim of complications of the flu. She worked for Kaiser Permanente on the front lines as a health care provider, drawing blood samples and working in the lab.

She was born on November 17th, 1984, in Denver. She loved living here and was proud to be a Colorado native.

Christine accomplished much in her short life. She was a graduate of Cherry Creek High School and while there participated in varsity track and field. She was captain of the girls' throwing team (discus and shot) her senior year. She was also selected to the elite choirs, Girls' 21 (junior year) and Meistersingers (senior year).

Christine graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She made this school choice because her grandfather had been a professor there. She continued to excel in her academics and athletics while at NSU. She again tried out for and was selected to the varsity track and field team, where at one meet, she achieved the highest score and won the meet. She was the only NCAA athlete in the extended family.

In addition to track and field Christine also became an accomplished racquetball player, taking lessons from and playing against her college coach. She played competitive softball and learned to ride a horse well enough to be a "bandit" holding up a train at a South Dakota festival. She was a good water skier and snow skier, as well as a champion tree climber as a little girl.

Christine taught herself to play piano by ear, her favorite piece being the theme from "Titanic". Painting with a group of family or friends was one of her favorite ways to spend a day off. Watching re-runs of "I Love Lucy" or enjoying a hot bath fit the bill after a long day.

Christine loved family gatherings with St. Patrick's Day being her favorite holiday. She loved spending any time she could with her nieces and nephews. She was known for her boisterous laugh and mischievous attitude. Her laugh was infectious and if she was laughing, you were too!

Christine was kind and compassionate to all animals. As a child she always had a hamster or a cat and most recently her dog, Bella, and cats, Baxter and Gizmo, were special to her. She considered her animals to be her fuzzy children.

Christine brought immense joy to her husband Joshua Wallace, her parents Michael Heffernan and Kathleen (Pye) Heffernan, her brother Timothy Heffernan, her sister Lynn (Heffernan) Vair and their families. She will be forever loved and deeply missed by all of her family and friends.