Paula Heffernan

February 4, 1950 - August 14, 2022

Paula Ruth Heffernan, 72, a longtime resident of Scituate, passed away after a hard-fought battle with dementia on Sunday, August 14, 2022 with her loving family by her side.

She was born and raised in Lynn, MA and was the daughter of the late John and Leah (Hurd) Heffernan.

Paula had many different occupations throughout her years, ranging from a Boston based taxi driver to librarian’s assistant. She also found comfort and happiness in helping others as displayed by her numerous volunteer jobs. Helping individuals at the council on aging, meals on wheels, distributing flyers for political campaigns, and protecting the nests of piping plovers on Duxbury Beach just to name a few.

Paula was an avid reader, bird watcher, and loved to drive down to the beach and listen to music. She found the New York Times cartoons particularly amusing and would often attach them to birthday cards or share them with friends. Paula was always interested in learning about different cultures and religious backgrounds. She felt at peace with the monks at the Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, MA and visited there often. Paula loved to go running in her younger years and would often participate in various road races around the south shore. She also found joy taking a run around the Scituate lighthouse loop and searching for odd shaped pebbles and shells.

Paula is survived by her daughter, Lucy Proulx, her husband Daryl, and their children Honor and Leo of Ayer, MA, and son, Jake Sullivan, his wife Amanda, and their child William of Weymouth, MA. She is survived by her ex-husband, Dan Sullivan of Newbury, NH. Paula leaves her brother, Michael Heffernan and his wife Marybeth of Winchester, MA. She is also survived by numerous cousins and close personal friends. Paula was sadly predeceased by her first-born child, Molly Sullivan, her sister, Mary Jane (Heffernan) Kingsbury, and her beloved Auntie Ruth Schecker.

Paula will be interred at the Groveland Cemetery in Scituate, MA with her daughter Molly.

Paula will be truly missed but never forgotten through all of our fond memories of her. Donations can be made in her name to the Scituate Town Library, 85 Branch Street, Scituate, MA 02066.