It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our mother, Mary Agnes (Redel) Hefferly, 92, Aug. 25, 2023. She was surrounded by her beloved family, Little Sisters, her Catholic faith, and love as she passed peacefully to eternal life.
She was born Nov. 13, 1930, to George James and Agnes Frances (Bade) Redel in Vienna. She was the tenth of 12 children and was the last one remaining of the 12 siblings.
Mary was a devoted parishioner of the Visitation Parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She graduated as salutatorian from Vienna High School in 1948. She moved to St. Louis, and was employed by the U.S. Army Finance Center. In 1952, Mary moved along with her job to Denver, Colo. There she met Fred Karl Hefferly, Jr. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at their “Singles Night” gathering. They were united in holy matrimony Oct. 17, 1953, in Vienna, and then moved to Rockville, Md. They and their growing family became active parishioners of the Shrine of St. Jude Catholic Church in Rockville, Md. Mary was a dedicated member of the Sodality of Our Lady of the Wayside.
Mary’s family moved to Birmingham, Ala. in 1974, where she joined the pastoral staff of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church serving as its parish secretary until 2009. Upon her retirement in 2009, Mary moved to Maryland where she lived out her retirement years and was a parishioner at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac, Md.
Mary was preceded in death by daughter, Kathleen; parents, George James and Agnes Frances; siblings, Kathleen, Jerome, George (Irene), Adrian (Rose), Marcella, Cornelius (Betty), Owen (Bonnie), Margaret (Richard Muncy), Virginia, James, and Jane (Ralph); and son-in-law, Don.
She is survived by children, Deborah (Don) Biesenbach of North Bethesda, Md., Mark (Teresa) Hefferly of The Woodlands, Texas, David (Robyn) Hefferly of Charlotte, N.C., Donna (Kent) Fleming of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Michele Tennery of Arlington, Va., and Mara (Jeff) Fabian of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; grandchildren, Michael (Casey) Hefferly, Laura (Mark) Asmussen, Andrew (Abby) Hefferly, Patrick (Ana) Hefferly, David Hefferly, Fleming (Chelsea) Hefferly, Clancy (Lanie) Hefferly, Mary Kendall Hegland, Luke Hefferly, Reed (Jennifer) Fleming, Kristen Fleming, Madison Fleming and Sarah Fabian; 18 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Jeanne (James) Redel; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Mary has left behind a family legacy of faith, hope, and love.
A funeral mass was held Saturday, Sept. 9, in the Chapel at the Little Sisters of the Poor Jeanne Jugan Residence in Washington, D.C. with Msgr. Joseph Ranieri as the celebrant. The Rite of Committal was held at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Md.
Memorial donations may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor Jeanne Jugan Residence in Washington, D.C. www.littlesistersofthepoorwashingtondc.org/donations/
