Mary Virginia Heggi

Mary Virginia West Heggi, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on June 14, 2016. A proud resident of San Bernardino for nearly nine decades, Virginia passed peacefully surrounded by family at home in Phelan. Her devoted husband, Steve, preceded her in death in 1995 after 45 years of marriage.

Born in San Bernardino on September 11, 1920, the youngest of five children of Francis and Carrie West, Virginia was raised in a loving family where hard work and education were highly valued and encouraged at every turn. She adored her older siblings and took great pride in their successes. After graduating from San Bernardino Valley College in 1940 and working at the then-new Norton Air Force Base, Virginia joined the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and served her country in the Navy until the war ended in 1945. Following the war, Virginia purchased a home for herself and her mother and returned to Norton, where she met Steve.

Together, Virginia and Steve raised three children, Barbara Applegate of Phelan, Bonnie Hawthorne of Nevada City, and Bruce Heggi of Yucaipa. The Heggi/West family was part of a broad network of beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins that spent summers together camping, and traveling across the country to spend time with one another. Virginia and Steve and their children were always treasured guests and valued company to all who had the good fortune to know them.

In her later years, Virginia took great joy in her fellowship within the Del Rosa United Methodist Church of San Bernardino congregation and in seeing her six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren growing up. She took particular delight in collecting mugs from the various colleges, universities, and military academies that they attended - always taking pride in their hard work and education. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren could always count on Grandma Heggi to make sure her cookie jar was full for their visits. She spent her happy final years living with her daughter Barbara and son-in-law Dave in Phelan, where she passed peacefully at home among family.