Heather Bell

Given by her stepfather, Graham Smart

at her funeral service on Tuesday, October 8, 2013

at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

I have the privilege of talking to you today about Heather. I am her stepfather, but Heather didn't care about the first four letters of that title. In fact Heather was at both my weddings to her mother Roxie. She was a witness at our quiet Vegas wedding, and Matron of Honor when we renewed our vows at Fyvie Castle in Scotland in 2006, where she gave a wonderful, emotional speech, about her mom and I. When she sat down there was not a dry eye in the room.

Regrettably I now have the chance to return the favor.

Heather was born here in Dayton in 1975 and she was Roxie's only child. She enjoyed ballet and tap lessons which led to a life long love of music and dancing. When she was 6 Roxie's work moved them to Houston Texas and six years later to Pensacola Florida.

Her Aunt Tina moved from Dayton to Pensacola at this time where she remains to this day and Heather continued to visit to spend time with her and Uncle Mark, and her cousins Mark jr, Jeff, Christy, and Taylor.

Heathers next move was to San Diego California where she attended Stella Maris Academy, and Poway High School before graduating from Abraxis High School.

Heather loved picnics with her stepsisters Jennifer and Shannon and her stepbrother Rodney. As she grew older she enjoyed four-wheeling in the desert.

Heather spent summer vacations in Dayton and missed her Grandma Mary and her Uncles Bob and Rick. So after graduation she returned to Dayton.

Her first job was at CW contracting where she worked as a cashier and at this time she became pregnant with Christopher.

After Christopher was born in 1996 she found a new job at GM/Delphi following a family tradition as her Grandpa Harold and her uncle Bob had worked for GM.

She started on the assembly line and in 1999 the year of Daniel's birth moved to the service pack department.

I would like to share this story from Tiffany and Jim Wendling

We started working together in the service pack department. Heather was a lot of fun to be around because she would work and play hard. What I remember most about our early days working together was Heather’s determination. When our group came to the department we were the first women that had worked there, and our male coworkers teased that we could not ‘sling iron’ as fast as they could. Heather was up on that line slinging 14-17 pounds compressors two at time determined to show we could beat the all men’s time for a full load, and we did!

With the looming closure of the Delphi plant Heather opted for a buy-out and to return to school.

After two years of hard work she obtained her Associates Degree in Business Administration from Sinclair Community College.

It was at this time that Heather took on a Summer job operating the balloon game at the Brewer family carnival to make money for college and to support her boys. This was also a family tradition as her Grandma Mary had been the ticket taker at the merry go round at the Lakeside carnival.

Her love of children led to a change in her field of study and she enrolled in the Human Rights program at the University of Dayton.

It is not easy to return to full time education more than ten years after high school but Dan Curran the President of the university told me yesterday when he came to say goodbye to Heather that the faculty and the other students were enormously impressed with her commitment and dedication. We were all so proud of her achievement when we joined her at the graduation ceremony in May this year.

Last week a major international conference on Human Rights took place here in Dayton and Heathers name was mentioned on several occasions. She had intended to continue her studies and work in the field of social justice.

No discussion of Heather would be complete without mentioning her enormous love and support for children, not just her own but those of her friends. She acted as a second mom to several including Jamie, Jared and Austin and as a team mom to Daniels football team where she and Tami were the loudest sideline moms.

Having had the opportunity to talk with many of Heathers relatives, friends, colleagues, teachers and fellow students two words keep cropping up determination and education. She was committed to completing hers and determined that her boys would enjoy the best she could provide and we are committed to ensuring that her wishes are fulfilled.

I would like to finish with a short poem by the actress and writer Joyce Grenfell:

If I should go before the rest of you

Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone,

Nor when I'm gone speak in a Sunday voice

But be the usual selves that I have known.

Weep if you must,

Parting is hell,

But life goes on,

So sing as well.

Message from Heather's Godmother, Bonnie:

Our sweet, sweet Heather....

What happened? This is a question we will ask ourself forever.

A beautiful person who was taken from us too young, too fast.

I have known Heather since birth and I was her Godmother.

She often called me Mom. She had a bright future that never came.

Heather was strong, smart and loved her family and friends. She

was like a magnet, whoever met her they were drawn to her.

I will miss her beautiful smile, her laugh and the way she always

made me feel welcome.

Thank you Heather for being a part of my life. You will forever

be on my mind and in my heart.

Rest in peace, love you so much...

Your Godmother,

Bonnie