1943
Mrs.
2009
Mrs. Catherine Heimovics
July 9, 1943 — November 15, 2009
Catherine Ann (Piercy) Heimovics, 66, of Fairway, KS passed away peacefully on November 15th at The Kansas City Hospice House, surrounded by her family. Cathy is survived by her loving husband of thirty-seven years, Dick, and by two daughters she adored: Meg of Lenexa, KS, married to Jeff Kumin and Sarah of Vancouver, British Columbia, married to Eric Lyngaas. She is also survived by three wonderful grandchildren Eli (5), Jonna (3), and Aria (2) Kumin. During the last months of her illness, “Nana” treasured time with her grandchildren. She loved to read to them; one grandchild could be found nestled affectionately on her lap, another resting on her shoulder, and a third bouncing off the other two.
Cathy had an insatiable love of books. She would return from the library with a bag full of good stories, crafted by skilled authors who, as she would say, “made you feel as if you had been taken on a good journey.” She loved a good mystery. The better ones, she once said “made you come away feeling all’s right with the world, that evil had been vanquished once again.” Cathy had many other interests. She enjoyed the fine arts and never missed an art gallery if one was nearby. Master of her kitchen, she prepared scrumptious meals for family and friends. She collected cookbooks and stuffed their pages with recipes from the internet. A gracious host and easy to be around, Cathy always tried hard to take others’ needs and preferences into account.
Cathy was born in Carthage, MO in 1943 and raised in St. Joseph, MO. She lived her adult life in the Kansas City area; the last thirty-one years, at home in Fairway, KS. She pursued a career goal helping improve public and nonprofit organizations. Following college and motivated by a genuine interest in public service, Cathy worked with a variety of public, community, and nonprofit organizations in Kansas City on a host of human service issues, including housing, health services, social welfare, and urban development.
In the meantime, she completed a PhD at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). After a brief tenure on the faculty of Avila College and a break to be a full-time mother, she served as Director of the Office of Outreach and Evaluation for the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Program at UMKC. Here she directed contract work for federal, state, and local units of government and nonprofit organizations. She also taught program evaluation to graduate students pursuing the MPA degree. Cathy loved the classroom and the challenge of sharing with others what she had learned in her own practice.
Teacher, public servant, friend, loving wife and mother, and doting grandmother, Cathy will be missed dearly and remain forever in our hearts and memories. To know Cathy was to share in the life of a beautiful person who was full of abundant kindness and love towards others.
Cathy also leaves three brothers, Dan and wife Nancy, Bill and friend Mary Lizar, and Pat Piercy. Also surviving are a brother-in-law, Jack Heimovics and his wife, Nancy Pound; a sister-in-law, Joan Ferris and husband Bruce; and many precious nieces and nephews. The love and support of family and friends during the period of her illness is deeply appreciated. Cousins by marriage but like sisters by choice, very special thanks are extended to Kay Hicks for her unwavering friendship to Cathy. We also offer many thanks to and much admiration for the brave work of the nurses and doctors at Kansas City Hospice House, the rehab staff at Bishop Spencer Place, and Oncologists Drs. Robert Belt and Susan Smith and their capable staffs. The family suggests contributions to the Johnson County Library Foundation or to Kansas City Hospice House in honor of Cathy’s life. A visitation will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 19th at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS which will be followed by words of remembrance by family and friends to be held at 5:00 P.M. at the chapel.
Arrangements by: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel (913) 451-1860. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com.
Cathy had an insatiable love of books. She would return from the library with a bag full of good stories, crafted by skilled authors who, as she would say, “made you feel as if you had been taken on a good journey.” She loved a good mystery. The better ones, she once said “made you come away feeling all’s right with the world, that evil had been vanquished once again.” Cathy had many other interests. She enjoyed the fine arts and never missed an art gallery if one was nearby. Master of her kitchen, she prepared scrumptious meals for family and friends. She collected cookbooks and stuffed their pages with recipes from the internet. A gracious host and easy to be around, Cathy always tried hard to take others’ needs and preferences into account.
Cathy was born in Carthage, MO in 1943 and raised in St. Joseph, MO. She lived her adult life in the Kansas City area; the last thirty-one years, at home in Fairway, KS. She pursued a career goal helping improve public and nonprofit organizations. Following college and motivated by a genuine interest in public service, Cathy worked with a variety of public, community, and nonprofit organizations in Kansas City on a host of human service issues, including housing, health services, social welfare, and urban development.
In the meantime, she completed a PhD at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). After a brief tenure on the faculty of Avila College and a break to be a full-time mother, she served as Director of the Office of Outreach and Evaluation for the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Program at UMKC. Here she directed contract work for federal, state, and local units of government and nonprofit organizations. She also taught program evaluation to graduate students pursuing the MPA degree. Cathy loved the classroom and the challenge of sharing with others what she had learned in her own practice.
Teacher, public servant, friend, loving wife and mother, and doting grandmother, Cathy will be missed dearly and remain forever in our hearts and memories. To know Cathy was to share in the life of a beautiful person who was full of abundant kindness and love towards others.
Cathy also leaves three brothers, Dan and wife Nancy, Bill and friend Mary Lizar, and Pat Piercy. Also surviving are a brother-in-law, Jack Heimovics and his wife, Nancy Pound; a sister-in-law, Joan Ferris and husband Bruce; and many precious nieces and nephews. The love and support of family and friends during the period of her illness is deeply appreciated. Cousins by marriage but like sisters by choice, very special thanks are extended to Kay Hicks for her unwavering friendship to Cathy. We also offer many thanks to and much admiration for the brave work of the nurses and doctors at Kansas City Hospice House, the rehab staff at Bishop Spencer Place, and Oncologists Drs. Robert Belt and Susan Smith and their capable staffs. The family suggests contributions to the Johnson County Library Foundation or to Kansas City Hospice House in honor of Cathy’s life. A visitation will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 19th at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS which will be followed by words of remembrance by family and friends to be held at 5:00 P.M. at the chapel.
Arrangements by: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel (913) 451-1860. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com.
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